Oral Health Therapy
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Oral Health Therapists (OHTs) are registered oral health practitioners who provide oral health care to children and adults. This includes:
- Comprehensive examination, diagnosis and treatment planning
- Radiographs, intra and extra-oral photography, intra-oral scanning and taking impressions
- Construction of mouthguards and medicament trays
- Post-operative reviews and suture removal
- Routine dental cleaning and application of remineralising agents
- Provision of local anaesthetic
- Assessment and maintenance of implants
- Assessment and treatment of gum disease
- Restorations for children and adults
- Pulp treatment and extractions of primary teeth
- Oral hygiene education and tailored oral health advice
- Dietary counselling and smoking cessation
Our Oral Health Therapist
Our Oral Health Therapist (OHT) Lucia Quinn is passionate about helping her patients connect their Oral Health with their overall general health and wellbeing.
Lucia’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Oral Health (BOH), Graduate Diploma in Dental Therapy (GDDT) and a Bachelor of Health Science (Honours). Lucia’s honours research explored the relationship between childhood obesity and dental decay. She was awarded the Highest Achievement in Bachelor of Health Science Honours and published her manuscript in the Australian Dental and Oral Health Therapists Association (ADOHTA) Journal in 2018. Lucia presented her research at the annual ADOHTA NSW conference in the same year. Lucia has also completed an extended scope-of-practice course which enables her to complete comprehensive diagnostics and management of adult patients.
Lucia has previously lectured at The University of Newcastle in subjects of Oral Pathology, Pharmacology and Administration of Local Anaesthetic, and Dental Radiography and Radiology. Other aspects of her academia career included course coordination, clinical educating and management. She has also been involved with three overseas student placements in Cambodia which provide Oral Health Therapy services to children and young adults through a sustainable research program.
Lucia has extensive experience in the public sector as an Oral Health Therapist working at multiple sites within Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD) and has provided oral health services for children and adults at the Awabakal Medical Service during her employment with HNELHD.
When will you see our OHT at Hunter Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Centre?
If you are being seen by one of our specialist surgeons as a new patient consultation for implant(s), you will also see Lucia as part of your comprehensive first visit. Lucia will:
- Take photographs of your smile and the areas of interest where implants will be placed;
- Conduct an oral health assessment which may include a bacteria exam, assessment of plaque control;
- Provide education and personalised at-home oral hygiene techniques for you to optimise your oral health prior to having your implants placed;
- Gently polish your teeth and gumline’s comfortably with the latest AirFlow Guided Biofilm Technology, and afterwards, place a remineralising agent if required.
You will also see Lucia for appointments regarding implant reviews after your crown or bridge construction is complete. These visits are to examine oral hygiene efforts around your newly placed crown(s) and to take baseline readings of the gingival tissues around the crown and implant. It is also an opportunity for Lucia to provide any additional oral hygiene tools or advice to promote long-term health and success with your dental implant and crown.
Lucia may review your healing at a post-op appointments after surgical tooth removal or newly placed implants.
Lucia has her own provider number which utilises dental item-numbers that are not covered by Medicare. Because Hunter Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Centre is a medical practice, we are unable to provide HICAPS. You can submit your receipt to your health fund, if you have dental cover, for rebates.