Strategies for Providing Care to Patients with Autism

Heightened sensory sensitivities. Communication difficulties. Increased anxiety. 

Autistic individuals face unique challenges before and during dental visits, which can create barriers to receiving critical oral health care. How can providers address these challenges and create an inclusive and supportive care environment?

During National Autism Awareness Month, join CareQuest Institute and the May Institute, a nonprofit organization that provides educational, rehabilitative, and behavioral health care services to autistic children and adults, for a webinar that will offer proven strategies for providing oral care to autistic patients. Our expert panel — including a pediatric dentist who has worked with special needs patients for 20 years — will provide an overview of autism and neurodivergence and discuss some of the unique challenges present in dentistry. They’ll also share their practical tips for creating a sensory-friendly environment and fostering collaboration with interdisciplinary teams.

Learning Objectives

• Describe the basic characteristics that define the diagnosis of autism and how they can affect the health care autistic individuals receive.  
• Define the concept of neurodiversity as it relates to autistic individuals and how it can impact the services and support they need.
• Discuss how to mitigate challenging behaviors in a dental setting.
• Identify how to implement behavioral interventions for autistic patients in a dental setting.
• Recognize the importance of having a behavioral therapist as part of a dental team.

Moderator & Presenter

Jennifer Zarcone, PhD, BCBA-D, Chief Clinical Officer and Director of Training, May Institute

Presenter

Oscar Padilla, DDS, Associate Professor of Clinical Dentistry, D4 Rotation Course Director, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, College of Dental Medicine, Nova Southeastern University

This webinar will be recorded.

CareQuest Institute for Oral Health is an ADA CERP 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. CareQuest Institute for Oral Health designates this activity for 1 continuing education credit.
This continuing education activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the standards of the ADA Continuing Education Recognition Program (ADA CERP) by CareQuest Institute for Oral Health.

All participating instructors in this program have disclosed that they do not have the following financial arrangement or affiliation with the listed persons or entity(ies) offering financial support, products, and/or services mentioned or related to the content of this program/activity.