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.

In this webinar you will:

• 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 Head Start staff and/or families of  Head Start children such as sharing existing OHS- approved resources and teaching staff to provide oral  hygiene for kids with disabilities
  
  

Speaker:
Dr. Courtney Thompson began her career in Dentistry as an RDA in a small private practice outside of Waco, TX. She is honored to have worked with the disability community for the last 15 years. After graduating from Texas A&M University (Gig ‘Em), Dr. Thompson began her career in Special Education. She went on to receive a Masters in Autism and Pediatric Developmental Disabilities, and Ph.D., in in Applied Behavior Analysis. Her education and career path has allowed her to combine passions for Special Needs Dentistry and ABA therapy. Her research focuses on families and patients, with diverse backgrounds, who have limited access to oral health care. Currently she works with Believe Dental and is on the board of operations for the Hunke Special Care Clinic at UTHSCSA Dental School.