The Virginia Board for People with Disabilities held a presentation and discussion on dental access for people with developmental disabilities with members of the dental community and disability community on Thursday, May 16. Nia Harrison, Director of Planning, Research, and Evaluation with the VBPD presented findings from the 2023 Assessment of the Accessibility of Dental Care. The group next plans to convene virtually and share ideas in September. VDA members who are interested in learning more and contributing to that discussion can contact Nia Harrison at Nia.Harrison@vbpd.virginia.gov.
The VDA is providing 10 CE credit hours for upcoming FREE two-day in-person courses offered to dental professionals to update their knowledge in dental care for people with unique physical, intellectual, or medical needs. The courses are open to all members of the dental team and will be held in Fredericksburg, Charlottesville and Newport News.
Fredericksburg – June 14-15
Charlottesville – July 19-20
Newport News – August 9-10
Matthew R. Cooke, DDS, MD, MPH, will present the most current clinical information and interactive case-based discussions regarding effective and safe levels of dental care for all individuals regardless of their specific needs. Topics to be addressed include treatment planning to address risk vs. benefit; behavior guidance techniques; disabilities, syndromes, and conditions with orofacial manifestations; ethics, advocacy, and trends in dentistry; and integration of more patients into your practice. Kami A. Piscitelli, BSDH, RDH, VA Department of Health Disabilities and Chronic Conditions Oral Health Coordinator, will also provide a presentation with tips and tricks for making dental visits easier for some patients, and hygiene adaptations for people with home care challenges.