This teaching strategy incorporates the ACE.S Essential Nursing Actions: Assess Function and Expectations, Coordinate and Manage Care, and Make Situational Decisions. The strategy utilizes the Smiles for Life curriculum from the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine. Access the Smiles for Life Curriculum at http://www.smilesforlifeoralhealth.org.
Have students read the following article, which offers an educational and clinical innovation designed to promote interprofessional oral health workforce capacity:
Haber, J., Hartnett, E., Allen, K., Hallas, D., Dorsen, C., Lange-Kessler, J., … Wholihan, D. (2015). Putting the mouth back in the head: HEENT to HEENOT. American Journal of Public Health, 105(3), 437-441. Retrieved from http://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/full/10.2105/AJPH.2014.302495
Ask students to read the Caries Management by Risk Assessment Oral Health delivery Framework: http://www.safetynetmedicalhome.org/sites/default/files/oral-health-delivery-framework.pdf
Ask the students to pay special attention to the framework, which provides a guide for assessment of oral health for older adults.
Suggested Learning Activity:
Utilizing the Caries Management by Risk Assessment (CAMBRA) Age > 6 form and the Oral Health Delivery Framework, ask the students to assess their older adult patients for oral health. Students can do this assessment in both acute and long-term care settings.

Student will implement Oral Health Delivery framework in caring for older adult
ASK – about oral health of older adult using the Oral Health Risk Assessment Caries Management by Risk Assessment (CAMBRA) Age > 6
LOOK – perform an oral health exam on the older adult using HEENOT and the Smiles for Life Module 7
- List the important points to look for in the oral physical examination (HEENOT) :
- Lips, tongue, mucous membranes, teeth
DECIDE your nursing diagnosis for the oral health needs of the older adult in the community.
- Develop a patient-centered management plan that includes oral health interventions.
- Develop a risk profile that includes oral and oral–systemic health problems.
- List potential problems.
ACT – Name three preventive oral health interventions you will implement.
List two oral health referral sources in the community for the older adult.
DOCUMENT – Student will document oral health assessment in Typhon.