Treating Patients with Special Health Care Needs in Your Practice
About This Event
Many patients with special health care needs (SHCNs) and complex medical conditions face significant barriers to timely, comprehensive dental care. As a result, they often remain with pediatric dentists well into adulthood, or are referred to hospital-based clinics, where wait times can extend from months to years. These delays frequently turn preventable issues into complex problems—issues that could have been addressed in a general dental practice with timely intervention.
This course offers the knowledge, skills and confidence to safely and effectively treat patients with SHCNs and medical complexities in a private practice setting. You will explore the challenges of transitioning patients from pediatric to general dental care, discover how private practitioners can reduce reliance on overburdened hospital systems and learn practical clinical and communication strategies for this unique population. Special emphasis will be placed on the personal and professional fulfillment that comes from serving patients whose care requires extra patience, compassion and dedication.
Learning Objectives
- Explain the ethical considerations and guiding principles involved in providing care for patients with special health care needs (SHCNs) and complex medical conditions
- Identify common medical comorbidities and apply appropriate dental management considerations
- Initiate and conduct medical consultations with confidence to promote effective medical–
- dental integration
- Implement business protocols and team training strategies to support the delivery of specialized care
- Determine appropriate treatment modifications and select materials suited to patient-specific needs
- Navigate legal and administrative requirements, including informed consent, power of attorney, and guardianship arrangements
- Expand care delivery options by offering portable dentistry services