[Jessica]

I really enjoyed seeing how different architectural layouts can improve a person’s state of mind and well-being. It is amazing to see how certain floor plans, waiting rooms, and lighting can create a soothing environment for patients, especially if they face sensory overload. I appreciate that there are such dental clinics and facilities that put in the thought and effort to create practices that can better accommodate patient’s with special needs. I am inspired to create a practice that considers these factors and the patient’s experience in order to create a more welcoming practice for all.

[Jessica]

I learned that there are different ways to support the needs of special needs patients. As providers, we can ask our patients and their caregivers about their special needs, social history, and behavioral history to better accommodate them during their dental visits. We can also provide them with different sensory tools which can help alleviate the sensory overload that some patients face. The presenter made a very good point to promote positive rather than negative reinforcement in order to create a supportive environment for our patients. The valuable information presented will help us to become better and more inclusive providers for our patients.

[Jessica]

I learned that customized care is very important when caring for families with children with special health care needs.  Dr. Shah mentions how there are different factors to take into account when working with different families and that the goal for these families is to make “progress, not perfection”. It is very important to keep in mind that certain methods that worked for one family, may not be the same for another. We can also provide dental visit and oral health educational tools to help guide families and their children in learning new ways on improving their oral health practices.

[Author]

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