History
The U.S. Surgeon General released a census report on oral health in 2000. The report not only demonstrated links between oral health and systemic health, but the numbers were staggering. Detailed links between oral health and systemic health were included but not limited to heart disease, diabetes, and aspiratory pneumonia. The results determined two major groups exhibited a short fall in dental care. The elderly, in particular, was one of those groups. The State of California responded by creating a specialized licensure enabling dental hygienists the ability to maximize opportunities for improving overall systemic health through prevention. The RDHAP (Registered Dental Hygienist in Alternative Practice) license allows for the licensee to provide preventive and therapeutic dental hygiene services for the homebound, residential facilities, institutions, schools, and shortage areas designated by the State of California. Kimberly Cruz, RDHAP, Co-Owner Ohana Dental Hygiene Practice
Specialties
Mobile Dental Hygiene Care for the Elderly, Disabled & Homebound A Registered Dental Hygienist in Alternative Practice (RDHAP) is a hygiene practitioner with a special California license which allows the licensee to provide preventive and therapeutic dental hygiene services for patients that are: Homebound In residential facilities or institutions In schools In shortage areas designated by the State of California Those who can benefit from our services include: Skilled Nursing Facility Residents Assisted Living Residents Adult Day Care Participants Developmentally Disabled Group Home Residents Patients in sub-acute care Patients that are homebound or bedbound Patients that are temporary or permanently disabled