Lynda McKeown

Lynda McKeown

Lynda McKeown

Accomplishments: Dental hygiene, health care, education

Lynda McKeown has practiced dental hygiene for 60 years, during which time she has advocated for improved oral health for the citizens of Thunder Bay. After graduating from the University of Toronto, Faculty of Dentistry she began her practice as the first dental hygienist in what is now Thunder Bay in 1964. She served as part-time faculty at Confederation College while providing periodontal care for a group of dentists. Her professional work also included Thunder Bay District Heath unit, Fluoride Varnish research, and clinician and researcher at the Breath Odour Clinic. Lynda has influenced oral health organizations from the local to the international by participating in and producing research, contributing to professional publications, and serving on professional boards and organizations.

Since 1972, Lynda has inspired students at Confederation College’s Dental Hygiene program through her service as one of the program’s first faculty members, both teaching courses and acting as a clinical demonstrator. While working full time, Lynda enrolled at Lakehead University and earned an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, with a minor in Occupational Ethics (1992). Later, she returned full time to earn a Master of Arts in Sociology (1995). With her new knowledge she developed a pioneering Confederation College course that applied sociology theory to Dental Hygiene practice in communities.

Lynda has been instrumental in the ongoing success of oral health organizations in Thunder Bay. She is a founding member of the Thunder Bay Dental Hygienists Society and brought forward the needs of local professionals  as a board member for the Ontario Dental Hygienists Association. She was also the President of the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association and has been honoured with a Life Membership from all three organizations. Lynda, along with other government appointees to the Transitional Council of the College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario (CDHO), piloted the development of dental hygiene self regulation. She was elected and served as the First President of CDHO.

The philosophy of her practice has centred in ongoing care for clients. After completing her MA, Lynda decided to bring professional dental hygiene care to persons without access to a dentist office, those in private homes, and long-term care facilities in Thunder Bay. This choice started her passion to improve oral care in LTCHs, as dental hygienists contribute to oral/dental health through all ages and abilities. Her present work involves establishing the relationship between increased frailties and need for professional dental hygiene care to maintain oral health. Frailties may directly or indirectly affect the health of the mouth and may determine the choice of dental hygiene therapies. Cognitive and physical frailties, for instance, affect a person's independence and ability to self care.

She was asked if she would revise the chapter 'palliative care' for the 6th edition of “Darby and Walsh Dental Hygiene: Theory and Practice”. Coauthoring with equally passionate local oral health advocates, they introduced in chapter 52 "Palliative Dental Hygiene Oral Health Care", being “the concept of providing compassion, support, and care for persons’ oral health as they progress through their chronic illness and disability so that they may live as fully and comfortably as possible until the end-of-life."

Lynda’s initiatives have helped improve clients’ journey to the end of their lives. Her ‘Mission of the Mouth’ stands as a constant reminder of the importance of oral health to overall health. Lynda will be remembered in Thunder Bay as a pioneering dental hygienist, advocate, and activist for public oral health.

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