Dentistry for Children and Adults with Disabilities: If Not You, Who?

Children and adults with disabilities constitute the most medically and dentally underserved minority population. Studies demonstrate that the most difficult health problem they face is their ability to obtain oral health services. This course will discuss why this problem exists, the barriers to care, comorbidities, and secondary health problems they will present with. A continuum of behavior guidance philosophies will be discussed as over 90% of patients with disabilities should and could be mainstreamed through every dental professional's practice, with a continually increasing patient population of children and adults with disabilities as evidenced by recent CDS reports it is the obligation of every dental professional to have inclusive practices. The new American Dental Association revision of the code of ethics for the dental profession to provide care for these patients and the ramifications of this to the council on dental accreditation makes it imperative for every clinician to gain clinical competency in being able to treat this patient population. This course will thoroughly cover the landscape of all issues in the treatment of patients with intellectual and physical disabilities.