As healthcare continues to evolve in the post-COVID-19 era, so does the professional and ethical responsibility of the dental hygienist. Today’s patients are more informed than ever about infection control, disease risk factors, and the importance of prevention. This is the moment to reaffirm our profession, focusing on the critical role dental hygienists play as preventive and infection control specialists in allied healthcare.

Join Katrina M Sanders, RDH, as she dives into the latest advancements in disease prevention. This dynamic course explores cutting-edge techniques available to dental hygiene professionals to control, prevent, and manage disease. Participants will walk away with advanced knowledge of futuristic methods in disease prevention, ready to elevate their practice and patient outcomes.

 

These challenges are often barriers to upholding fundamental educational principles, connecting patients to their value system and dental IQ, to name a few. The complication: these challenges are getting in the way of patients receiving the optimal treatment and level of care they need, it is affecting the metrics of the dental practice, and most concerning: oral disease prevalence continues to soar.
Using the “Assessment – Strategy – Knowledge” technique, learn how you can achieve high level treatment case acceptance simply by changing the dialogue around dentistry and ultimately: getting them to ask you for their needed treatment! Learn about how the ASSESSMENT phase provides critical insights to develop a STRATEGY to support patients in empowering themselves to approach dental communication from a space of KNOWLEDGE aimed to optimize their complex care.

In this interactive training, dental hygienists will gain a deeper understanding of how neurodiversity, particularly autism, can shape patients’ experiences in the dental care setting. Participants will explore the sensory, communication, and executive functioning differences that may influence a patient’s comfort and cooperation during dental visits.

By recognizing and responding to these diverse needs, dental professionals can create more inclusive, supportive, and effective care environments. This course equips participants with practical tools to modify clinical spaces, adjust communication styles, and deliver care that respects each individual’s unique neurological profile.

Participants will leave the session prepared to implement strategies that foster empathy, reduce patient anxiety, and improve treatment outcomes, ensuring that all neurodiverse patients feel safe, welcomed, and understood.

This comprehensive course delves into the numerous challenges and obstacles faced by patients living with various neurological conditions when it comes to maintaining their daily oral hygiene. These challenges can significantly impact their overall health and well-being. In addition, the course thoroughly explains the essential roles that Occupational Therapists and Dental Hygienists play in collaborating effectively to enhance oral care for these patients. Together, they work towards making oral hygiene practices easier, more comfortable, and ultimately more effective for individuals with neurological impairments, ensuring a better quality of life and improved health outcomes.