Speakers: Courtney Thompson, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA

Program Track: Professional Development

Course Description: Providers and their teams often have questions and concerns regarding how to care for patients with special needs. Common barriers include lack of training and knowledge on behavioral health and mental/physical disabilities. Dr. Thompson provides insight for hygienist and their staff on how to treat patients with disabilities. Teams are equipped with knowledge in meaningful and practical way. Dr. Thompson offers alternatives for creating a sensory friendly dental practice and team. This approach allows members of the practice to build confidence and empower each other on how best to collaborate and treat patients with special needs.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the most common disabilities seen in children birth-five.
• Describe the connections between oral health and those disabilities and implement strategies to overcome oral health challenges.
• List actions a hygienists might take to provide support for staff and/or families of special needs children such as sharing existing OHS- approved resources and teaching staff to provide oral hygiene for kids with disabilities.

CE Credit Hours: 1.5

Original Date of Session: February 5, 2025

The American Dental Hygienists' Association is designated as an approved provider by the American Academy of Dental Hygiene, Inc. #AADHADH (Jan. 1, 2025–Dec. 31, 2025). Approval does not imply acceptance by a state or provincial Board of Dentistry. Licensee should maintain this document in the event of an audit.

The American Dental Hygienists’ Association is an approved provider of dental continuing education as recognized by the Dental Board of California, Provider #5238.