Sonya Dunbar is a US Navy Veteran, Registered Dental Hygienist, and oral health educator on a mission to reduce health risks and morbidity among seniors due to poor oral health care. Sonya is affectionately known as the Geriatric Toothfairy due to her enthusiasm and passion to motivate and educate caregivers on the importance of oral care for seniors. She has a Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration and over 25 years of dental experience in private practice, skilled nursing facilities, academia as an adjunct professor teaching dental hygiene students as well as marketing. Sonya is also a published author who chronicled some of her experiences with our “greatest generation†in a book titled Golden Nuggets of Life. Meet the awesome author spotlight below.
Fancy: How would you describe your swagher? What makes Sonya, Sonya?
Sonya: My genuine care for the aging population is part of my swagher. It makes my heart leap when I am the one responsible for bringing joy to an elderly person who can no longer care for themselves.
Fancy: So what sparked your interest in dental hygiene?
Sonya: I have always loved to smile, I feel a smile is like love; it is something you can give to someone else and at the same time keep some of it for yourself. Since I love to see people smile, I wanted to help make smiles more beautiful. That’s why I became a dental hygienist.
Fancy: Did you first work with a dentist before branching off?
Sonya: Yes, I always worked with dentists until I took a leap of faith and jumped out on my own.
Fancy: Can you describe what it was like when you made the connection between the death of senior citizens and their oral health care?
Sonya: What helped me make the connection with seniors and their oral care was my grandmother she lived in a nursing home. I noticed the staff was not brushing her teeth at all, so I started brushing them. I then noticed that other residents started asking me to brush their teeth and dentures. Before long, I was cleaning almost every resident teeth in the facility. Many residents did not have the dexterity to do a simple task like brushing their own teeth. I found myself buying supplies weekly to care for the resident’s teeth. Some residents had not had their teeth brushed or cleaned in months. My grandmother has since expired, I know she would be proud of me and that is my biggest motivation.
Fancy: So what exactly is the problem, and why are you so passionate about it?
Sonya: The problem is that many seniors in long-term care facilities are dying and becoming sick because of poor oral care. Poor oral care can lead to Pneumonia, heart disease, Alzheimer’s and yes even death. Many seniors cannot brush their own teeth due to cognitive limitations or dementia. I have noticed that the staff in nursing homes might not be trained on how to provide proper oral care and the importance of proper oral care.
Fancy: Did the Geriatric Toothfairy exist before you learned of the correlation between the two?
Sonya: No, the Geriatric Toothfairy did not exist before my discovery. The word Geriatric is a branch of medicine that deals with the problems and diseases of old age and the medical care and treatment of aging. Since I was providing dental care for the aging which is medical care, I came up with the name Geriatric Toothfairy. Because fairies make people happy. I want to make our elders happy and help save their lives.
Fancy: Can you share any tips for caretakers to utilize as preventive measures?
Sonya: Help them brush their teeth daily
Electric brushes work great
Clean their tongue daily not with their toothbrush get a tongue cleaner.
Never sleep in dentures
Clean dentures daily
Have regular dental visits
Fancy: Why are those with Alzheimer’s disease more at risk?
Sonya: Recent studies have shown that poor oral care has been linked to Alzheimer’s. However, if a person has Alzheimer’s they might not remember to brush their teeth which can lead to other systemic diseases and dental problems.
Fancy: What type of events do you typically speak at?
Sonya: Nursing home conferences, healthcare conferences, community events, dental events, aging conference, any medical conference, and events.
Fancy: Do you have any tips for those hiring caretakers or who may be wondering if their loved ones are receiving proper care?
Sonya: Check references, do background checks. This next one might sound silly, but it works. Look in the person’s car; that’s a sign to see how clean they are. Get their home address, ride past their house, and look in the yard to see if they keep it clean. One thing my grandmother told me is, if someone will not take care of their own things why would I expect them to take care of my things.
Fancy: Would you say your time in the military contributed to who you are today?
Sonya: Absolutely, it taught me discipline.
Fancy: Please share a little about your book.
Sonya: My book is 15 short heartfelt stories that people shared with me while I was providing care for them. I feel we have lost so much wisdom to the grave, because no one shared it before they died. Some of the stories make you laugh, some will make you cry, but it is a good read. My passion is to be the voice to those whose voice has become a whisper.
Fancy: Was there or is there an elderly person that’s dear to you in your life? I’m just curious as to where your patience comes from?
Sonya: Yes, my grandmother who I spent most of my summers with as a child. She also lived with me until we could no longer provide care for her, and we had no choice but put to put her in a nursing home.
Fancy: What do you like to do in your free time? Do you have any hobbies?
Sonya: I love spending time with my handsome hubby, travel, mentoring younger women, and reading.
Fancy: Do you have any upcoming projects or events that you care to share?
Sonya: Yes, I am working on the S.O.S project which means (Saving Our Senior) This will be an ongoing project, and people can help buy a senior that lives in a long-term care facility a 6-month supply of oral care products, that also includes an accountability card that can be placed in the residents bathroom for the caregiver to check every time oral care is provided.
Connect with Sonya/ The Geriatric below.
Website: Geriatrictoothfairy.org
Facebook: Geriatric Tooth Fairy
LinkedIn: Geriatrictoothfairy
Instagram: geriatric_toothfairy
Twitter: @GToothfairy
YouTube: Geriatric Toothfairy
