This course focuses on providing preventive dental hygiene care for people with special health care needs. It provides students with a broad background in the provision of oral health services for people with a variety of special needs and circumstances. This class may include students from multiple sections.
Course Outcomes
- Explain reasons why dental hygienists should treat people with special needs.
- Describe societal trends regarding oral health preventive care for people with special needs.
- Evaluate and discuss barriers to oral health care within a population group.
- Identify community-based systems and common goals, identifying most urgent needs.
- Explain etiologies and definitions of intellectual disabilities, utilizing correct terminology.
- Contrast the differences in the spectrum of autism disorders. Explain treatment options and relevant considerations.
- Discuss various and specific treatment options, risks, benefits, and alternatives to care regarding geriatric oral health care.
- Determine appropriate treatment planning based on medical history and dental abnormalities.
- Utilize people-first language when referencing people with special needs.
- Discuss legal, clinical, and emergency issues relating to informed consent for patients with special needs.
- Describe how informed consent can be obtained and from whom. Apply information to case studies.
- Integrate principles of positive reinforcement with structuring and promoting good oral health self-care.
- Describe the safety considerations of wheelchair transfers.
- Evaluate effective use of restraints, mouth props and techniques for patients who are willing, but unable to cooperate.
- Relate limitations of disability to dental hygiene therapies, decision-making, and oral hygiene instruction.