Treating Dental Patients With Special Needs and Complex Medical Histories

Preparing dental teams and clinics for the provision of special care dentistry can help improve the oral and systemic health of this patient population.

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES
After reading this course, the participant should be able to:

1. Describe the prevalence of disabilities in the U.S. population, and list examples of patients with special needs and disabilities who commonly present in dental practice.
2. Explain key information that should be included in the patient history when caring for this population.
3. List clinical strategies and techniques that can enhance outcomes when caring for individuals with special needs or complex medical histories.

This course was issued in the May 2019 issue and expires 5/31/22. The authors have no commercial conflicts of interest to disclose. This 2 credit hour self-study activity is electronically mediated.