Whitehorse dental hygienist looks to bring her services to rural Yukon

There's nothing worse than having a toothache — especially if the nearest dentist is hundreds of kilometres away. 

That's why a dental hygienist from Whitehorse is proposing to bring some basic dental services to the territory's rural communities. 

Claire Hudson, who has worked as a dental hygienist in Whitehorse for the past two years, said many of her patients come from out of town and after hearing about the challenges they faced just to make an appointment, she knew what she wanted to do.

"I think it's important for people to have the option," Hudson said. "There's a lot of accessibility issues for patients to come to Whitehorse. Whether it's financial, or mobility. 

"It would really help with maintaining just the general oral health for a lot of patients." 

Hudson said she wouldn't be able to do any surgical work on people, but would focus more on the prevention side of dental health, such as cleanings, provide temporary fillings, and assessments.

At this point, it's still just an idea Hudson is exploring. She said there's still a lot of red tape to get through before it can become a reality.

She would also need to find spaces to work from in rural communities. One place that came to mind was the dedicated dental space in the Dawson City hospital but Hudson said it's a lot harder than simply setting up and taking appointments.

"There is legalities and insurance and responsibility that comes with that room," she explained. "I've also looked at alternatives of possibly renting a rec space. As long as it's clean space that's private or semi-private, it would work as a dental laboratory," she said.

Another challenge, Hudson says, is figuring out the territory's rules around offering independent hygiene.

"Basically every other province it has it outlined whether independent hygiene is fine or not," Hudson explained. "For the Yukon, our dental act is very old, and it doesn't say yes — but it also doesn't say no."

Hudson said she's working with a lawyer to navigate the process.

The Yukon Government's health department is responsible for the dental space in the Dawson hospital. Nobody from the department was available to comment on Hudson's plan but a department spokesperson said in an email that "the administrative requirements for independent operations in a hospital building will depend on the proposed use." 

Hudson's goal is to begin offering dental hygeine services in rural communities sometime next year. In the meantime, she said she has created questionnaires that she's circulating around communities to gauge whether or not her services are needed, and wanted in each community.

Carmacks residents support the idea

One person who said Hudson's services are not only wanted, but needed, is Norma Gull, a Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation elder. She said having the opportunity to see a dental hygienist in her community would remove many barriers she currently faces. Gull does not have her own vehicle.

"It's hard for me to continue travelling to Whitehorse," she said.

"The First Nation does provide rides [to Whitehorse] but sometimes it's hard and I can't go out of the community. If I don't go with the van then I have to hire somebody and it's sort of tiresome."

Another resident who said she'd welcome a visiting dental hygienist is Nina Dickson, the assistant director of health and wellness for the First Nation. She said her department would love to discuss options with Hudson to see how to bring her to Carmacks.

Dickson said it's "kind of annoying" to drive an hour and a half to Whitehorse just to get a check-up.

"I try to get into the dentist as much as possible, and I have two little ones and it's hard to take a day off and drive a little one in for a cleaning," she said.

"I think that we're more than open to having a conversation. I'd love if [Hudson] got a hold of us. It'd be our department that would likely work through the details of that with her."