Scared Silent: Understanding & Communicating with Patients with Selective Mutism

Saturday, February 1, 2025 – Saturday, March 1, 2025

11:30 am – 1:30 pm

Course Code:

725SL

Cost:

$95.00

Credits:

2

CE Hours

Assistant
Dentist
Hygienist
Lecture

ADHA MA LECTURE & LUNCHEON


Scared Silent: Understanding and Communicating with the Dental Patient with Selective Mutism


As dental professionals, communication with our patients is crucial to our ability to educate them and provide them with comprehensive dental care. A patient suffering from Selective Mutism often lacks the ability to verbally communicate in situations they find anxiety provoking and where there is the expectation to speak, such as the dental office. 

This course will discuss the definition of Selective Mutism as defined by the DSM – 5, its’ comorbidities, symptoms and presentation. We will review diagnostic and treatment modalities for Selective Mutism and touch upon some of the treatment programs available.  Concentration will be placed on developing strategies that can be implemented by the dental clinician and office staff to avoid increasing anxiety in and better communicate with the patient suffering with Selective Mutism.

Speakers

After this course attendees will be able to:

  • Recognize the symptoms of Selective Mutism (SM), be aware of its’ comorbidities and understand how SM differs from shyness
  • Examine diagnostic and treatment modalities for Selective Mutism
  • Review various treatment programs available
  • Create and implement effective strategies in the dental office which result in positive communication with the SM patient

*Complimentary lunch to the first 65 MDHA members to register.

Preregistration prior to December 2, 2024 is highly recommended.

The Massachusetts’s Dental Society is an ADA Corp Recognized Provider

ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry. Concerns or complaints about a CE provider may be directed to the provider or to the Commission for Continuing Education Provider Recognition at

ADA.org/CERP