A Father’s Journey Inspires Better Dental Care for Burn Survivors
Burn patients often face days, weeks or even months of intensive treatment, surgeries, therapy and limited mobility, making everyday routines like oral care especially challenging. When oral hygiene is neglected, bacteria can accumulate quickly, increasing the risk of infection and complications for critically ill patients.
Good oral hygiene has been a guiding principle for Valleywise Health pediatric dentist Dr. Charles McKenzie for decades. But his mantra took on new meaning when his son, Scott, experienced a severe burn injury.
In 2019, Dr. McKenzie was helping a neighbor repair a fuel tank on his truck when fuel vapors near the vehicle suddenly ignited, engulfing 10-year-old Scott in flames. More than 48% of Scott’s body was burned, with his arms, hands, and legs taking the brunt of the injury.
“I remember Scott’s hands looked really bad, but my instinct was to get him to an urgent care facility,” said Dr. McKenzie. “When the paramedics showed up, we were told Scott needed to be transported to The Diane & Bruce Halle Arizona Burn Center at Valleywise Health. I am eternally grateful for the incredible team of medical professionals, doctors and nurses who took care of us during a very challenging time.”
Scott spent six weeks at the Halle Arizona Burn Center. The McKenzie family lost count of how many surgeries he underwent, including multiple skin grafts on his legs, arms and hands. Thankfully, the injury to his face was minimal.
“While we were in the Halle Arizona Burn Center, I tried to learn everything I could about how to best take care of my son, both from a physician and parent standpoint,” said Dr. McKenzie. “I distinctly remember when a fellow burn survivor stopped and jokingly told Scott, ‘Make sure you are stretching out your face and mouth or else you won’t be able to eat those cheeseburgers.’”
As a dentist, that statement piqued Dr. McKenzie’s interest in the tools doctors, nurses and therapists used to treat the face and mouth during the healing process.
“I learned pretty quickly that the tools available were awkward and cumbersome,” said Dr. McKenzie. “The devices were not very innovative, plus they were hard for therapists to use and uncomfortable for patients to experience.”
After Scott’s injury, Dr. McKenzie closed his private dental practice and joined the dental team at Valleywise Health. Drawing on his experience as both a dentist and the father of a burn survivor, he developed specialized oral appliances to better support patients with facial burns. Called the “pivot” and “saddle”, the 3-D printed devices are now helping hundreds of burn patients throughout their recovery.
But Dr. McKenzie saw another opportunity to improve care.
With the support of Valleywise Health Dental Director Dr. Christopher Brendemuhl, he began looking at how burn patients could maintain better oral health during their hospital stays. They found that the basic dental hygiene supplies available made it difficult for staff to provide effective oral care, particularly for patients whose burns affected their hands and dexterity.
“Often burn patients have dexterity issues with their hands,” said Dr. McKenzie. “Having an electric toothbrush makes the cleaning process easier for these patients and their mouths healthier. We thought, ‘What if we give the patients dental hygiene kits while they are in the hospital and teach them how to brush their teeth with their injuries?’ This will be especially valuable once they leave the hospital.”
Each Valleywise Health dental hygiene kit includes: an electric toothbrush, a floss handle that eliminates the need for patients to put their hands in their mouths, toothpaste formulated for dry mouths and a zippered carrying case. Together, these simple tools can help patients care for their oral health more independently, both in the hospital and as they continue their recovery at home.
“Something like an electric toothbrush sounds so simple, but it can make a world of difference in a burn survivor’s life,” Dr. McKenzie concluded. “This act of generosity and kindness helps protect a patient’s health while making the long road to recovery a little easier.”
You can help make that recovery a little easier by making a donation to Valleywise Health Foundation. Simply write “dental care kit” in the gift comments and you can help provide burn patients with the tools they need to protect their oral health during treatment and beyond.
