The student will be able to:

Dental Assisting Theory and Practice

1. Describe specific adaptations in patient positioning, educational approaches, and chairside assisting techniques required to provide safe and effective dental care for patients with diverse needs.
2. Describe the common oral health conditions associated with patients with special health care needs.
3. Describe the common oral health conditions associated with pediatric, adolescent, older adults, and the frail elderly.
4. Apply effective communication strategies for person-centered interactions with patients with special health care needs.

Infection Control and Hazardous Waste Management

1. Describe the infection control cross contamination challenges and strategies for delivering dental care to patients with special needs.

Ethical and Legal Principle

1. Describe HIPAA regulations regarding the confidentiality and appropriate disclosure of information related to a patient's disability, ensuring respect for patient privacy.
2. Apply the American Dental Assistants Association (ADAA) code of ethics to the provision of inclusive and respectful care for patients with special health care needs.

Dental Assisting Theory and Practice

1. Patient positioning and chairside assisting techniques
   1. Children (2-10 years)
   2. Adolescents (11-18 years)
   3. Older adult
      1. Use slow, gradual movement when reclining or bringing the chair upright
      2. Provide extra support, such as neck pillow or back cushion, to maintain comfort and reduce strain
      3. Allow rest periods during long procedures
      4. Position chair to support easy transfer from mobility aids, considering semi-supine if full recline causes discomfort
   4. Frail elderly adults
      1. Use soft padding or blankets to support bony areas such as elbows, hips, and back of head
      2. Maintain chair in a semi-reclined or 45-degree angle position to reduce aspiration risk
      3. Consider short, frequent appointments to minimize fatigue
      4. Use of blankets or a heating pad to prevent chills and discomfort
      5. Avoid full supine if patient has difficulty breathing or swallowing
   5. Pregnant patients
      1. Position the patient in a semi-supine or upright position and avoid laying flat on the back
      2. Place a wedge or small pillow under the right hip to tilt the body slightly to the left to shift the uterus off the vena cava
      3. Schedule appointments in the second trimester when possible - symptoms are often most manageable
      4. Allow for frequent breaks, especially during longer procedures
      5. Encourage hydration and ensure comfort throughout the appointment
2. Patient groups with special health care needs
   1. Patients with intellectual disabilities
   2. Patients with physical disabilities
   3. Patients with visual impairments
   4. Patients with hearing impairments
   5. Patients undergoing cancer therapy
   6. Patients who are immunocompromised
3. Educational approaches
   1. Tell-show-do method
   2. Teach back method
4. Oral conditions associated with special patient populations
   1. Children (2-10 years)
      1. Early Childhood Caries (ECC)
      2. Enamel hypoplasia or developmental defects
      3. Gingivitis due to poor brushing habits
      4. Dental trauma
         1. Falls
         2. Sports injuries
      5. Prolonged thumb sucking or pacifier use
         1. Malocclusion risk
   2. Adolescents (11-18 years)
      1. Orthodontic concerns
         1. Malocclusion
         2. Crowding
         3. Gingivitis
         4. Increased risk of dental caries
            1. Poor diet choices
            2. Soda consumption
         5. Bruxism
      2. Intra and extra oral piercings
         1. Localized infections
         2. Chipped teeth
   3. Older adult
      1. Root caries due to gingival recession
      2. Xerostomia from medications
      3. Periodontal disease progression
      4. Tooth wear or attrition
      5. Prosthetic complications
         1. Denture stomatitis
         2. Pressure sores
   4. Frail elderly adults
      1. Poor oral hygiene due to physical or cognitive decline
      2. Severe xerostomia
      3. Denture-related issues
         1. Ulcers
         2. Fungal infections
      4. Oral cancer risk factors
      5. Difficulty accessing dental care and untreated disease
   5. Patients with intellectual disabilities
      1. Poor oral hygiene habits
      2. Gingivitis and periodontal disease
      3. Bruxism or self-injurious oral behavior
      4. Drooling or open bite
      5. Delayed eruption or missing teeth
   6. Neurodivergent patients
      1. Sensory sensitivities
         1. Touch
         2. Sound
         3. Light
         4. Taste
         5. Smell
      2. Resistance to physical contact or oral manipulation
      3. Strong preferences for routine and predictability
      4. Difficulty understanding or tolerating new environments
      5. Limited verbal communication in some patients
   7. Patients with physical disabilities
      1. Gingivitis and plaque buildup from difficulty with brushing/interdental cleaning
      2. Increased caries risk due to diet and limited dexterity
      3. Dental trauma from falls or seizures
      4. Malocclusion from muscular disorders
      5. Challenges with dental visits and delayed care
   8. Patients with visual impairments
      1. Oral hygiene challenges due to inability to see plaque or inflammation
      2. Caries and gingivitis from inadequate plaque removal
      3. Dependence on caregivers for brushing
      4. May not recognize signs of oral disease
   9. Patients with hearing impairments
      1. Oral health issues similar to general population
      2. Communication barriers may lead to misunderstandings in hygiene instruction
      3. Missed appointments or inconsistent care due to lack of effective communication
   10. Pregnant patients
       1. Pregnancy gingivitis
          1. Hormonal changes
       2. Pyogenic granuloma
       3. Increased caries risk due to morning sickness, cravings, poor brushing habits
       4. Erosion from vomiting
       5. Avoidance of care due to fear of harming fetus
   11. Patients undergoing cancer therapy
       1. Mucositis
       2. Xerostomia from radiation or chemotherapy
       3. Oral infections
          1. Fungal
          2. Bacterial
          3. Viral
       4. Osteoradionecrosis
       5. Taste changes or sensitivity
   12. Patients who are immunocompromised
       1. Increased risk for oral candidiasis
       2. Herpes simplex outbreaks
       3. Periodontal infections that progress rapidly
       4. Delayed healing after dental procedures
       5. Oral ulcers or mucosal lesions
5. Methods of communication for special patient populations
   1. Children (2-10 years)
   2. Adolescents (11-18 years)
   3. Older adult
   4. Frail elderly adults
   5. Patients with intellectual disabilities
   6. Patients with physical disabilities
   7. Patients with visual impairments
   8. Patients with hearing impairments
   9. Pregnant patients
   10. Patients undergoing cancer therapy
   11. Patients who are immunocompromised

Infection Control and Hazardous Waste Management

1. Infection control principles in dentistry
   1. Standard precautions
      1. PPE
      2. Hand hygiene
      3. Instrument sterilization
      4. Surface disinfection
   2. ​Transmission pathways
      1. Direct
      2. Indirect
      3. Droplet
      4. Airborne
   3. OSHA and CDC guidelines overview
2. Unique infection control challenges with special needs patients​​
   1. Physical limitations
      1. Difficulty using barriers or PPE due to physical disabilities
      2. Challenges with patient positioning leading to contamination of unintended surfaces
   2. ​Cognitive or behavioral conditions
      1. Resistance to PPE or dental equipment
         1. Gagging
         2. Spitting
         3. Sudden movement
   3. ​Medical considerations
      1. Immunocompromised patients may require enhanced protective protocols
      2. Increased risk for infection transmission from caregivers or medical devices

Ethical and Legal Principles

1. HIPAA regulations pertaining to the disclosure of a patient's disability
   1. Requirements of HIPAA
   2. HIPAA compliance
   3. Maintaining patient confidentiality
2. Provision of safe and ethical care
   1. ADAA code of ethics
   2. Ethical principles
      1. Beneficience
      2. Non-Malfiecence
      3. Veracity
      4. Autonomy
      5. Justice
      6. Compassion
      7. Competence
      8. Integrity
      9. Professionalism
      10. Tolerance
   3. Ethical standards for equitable treatment
   4. Applications of ethical standards for patients with special needs

Not applicable.

Culture assignment report and presentation
Weekly reflection journal
Case study analysis
Final examination (1)

Lecture
Group discussion
Cooperative learning exercises
Role playing
Oral presentations
Demonstration

Bird, D.L., and D.S. Robinson. Modern Dental Assisting, 14th ed.. 2023.

1. Weekly reading assignments from textbook.
2. Online continuing education courses (3).
3. Weekly ADAA journal articles and writing summaries of the articles.