M8 Social Networks and Support Discussion/paper - Assignment Example

New ties may be introduced to address areas not effectively covered by the existing social network linkages. This paper entails the development of new social network linkages to enhance awareness about the periodontal disease among college students. Periodontal disease is recognized as a ‘silent disease’ among the various dental diseases because its manifestation does not involve any pain (Nield-Gehrig & Willmann, 2007). Most people diagnosed with the disease suspect the condition while it is in its advance stages - a phenomenon that complicates its management resulting in loss of teeth.

The disease manifests through different signs and symptoms which can be identified in its early stages to facilitate timely interventions. Nevertheless, many people are not aware of these early signs and symptoms; hence, there is a need to create new social linkages to create awareness about these symptoms among college students. The new social network linkages targets college students who have ready access to the various social networks where the new social ties can be hosted. The social network will involve people with previous or current experiences with the disease to share their ordeal: when and how they discovered they were suffering from the condition. . It is anticipated that this new social network linkage will mobilize adequate social support for the targeted group to seek dental care services or make frequent visits to dental care units to discover about their dental health.

In addition, it will encourage the people suffering or experiencing some of the early stages signs and symptoms, such as persistent bad breath, red swollen gums, and bleeding during brushing to seek dental care services early enough to prevent complications associated with advanced stages of the disease (Nield-Gehrig & Willmann, 2007). This intervention is important because it provides people suffering silently the social support they need in order to come out and seek dentists’ intervention, especially by showing that this is not their disease, but a community concern.

Experiences of people with or previously affected by the condition will encourage many to seek professional advice concerning their dental health (Glanz, Rimer & Viswanath, 2008). This intervention will most definitely work because the target populations can easily be involved in the new network, particularly through the growing number of social networks available to the population. In this case, the new network will not only impact on the members of the social network, but also the entire society because the students can spread the message to their families.

Finally, social networking is the best way to address the periodontal disease menace because many people will be informed about the early signs and symptoms and learn from people who have had experience with the condition. With the growing interest in social networks and the current technological advancement dental care information can be easily disseminated through such platforms. References Glanz, K.,