Florida Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (FAPD) 2025 Annual Meeting

Florida Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (FAPD) 2025 Annual Meeting is organized by Florida Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (FAPD) and will be held on Oct 25, 2025 at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort at Universal Orlando, Orlando, Florida, United States of America.

Morning Session:
Autism Spectrum Disorders: Architecture a successful dental appointment
Descriptions: 
As dental providers to children with or without special healthcare needs (SHCN), we have experienced moments of extreme child resistance to delivery of even the simplest oral care procedures. What is our strategy when a patient will not sit in a dental chair, block access to the mouth and resist with the strength of a superhero? Dental procedures can be challenging for children. They are especially difficult for individuals with intellectual disabilities, behavioral disorders and sensory issues. These moments are equally challenging for the provider and accompanying caregivers.

Dr. Hernandez is a parent of a young adult with special healthcare needs (SHCN). Her personal experience with her son’s complex medical journey along with deep dives in behavioral psychology and health & wellness coaching, has allowed her to approach these appointments from a unique perspective. Designing these appointments are key to success for a lifetime of oral health. In her presentation, she will discuss concepts and strategies from each of her deep dives and how she incorporates them in a dental appointment. She has a WHOLISTIC and PERSONALIZED approach to each child and each event. As a health and wellness coach she will share how she incorporates lifestyle factors discussions during anticipatory guidance with parents. She will also discuss evidence-based techniques that will help prepare both parent, child and provider for a successful dental visit. While the conversation is around the topic of SHCN, strategies discussed are applicable to ALL children.

Learning Objectives: 
The learner will be able to 

• Understand the role of the parent, caregivers & educators in the dental therapeutic encounter  
• Understand the significance of AND learn how to conduct desensitization appointments 
• List strategies on how to prepare an individual for the dental visit 
• Inclusion of lifestyle discussions during anticipatory guidance coach.

Afternoon Session:
“Take A Breath”
Clinical effects of expansion, extraction and “facial type” on airway and breathing.
As primary care providers of pediatric dentistry and orthodontics all of us prefer to base our treatments on evidence based principles.  We yield to the obligation of making clinical decisions based on science. As professionals we strive to provide accurate information to parents whose children present with occlusal  and facial relationships which if left untreated may lead to conditions which can be unattractive, dysfunctional and become more severe.

The seminar will feature “selections from the following topics”: 

• For pediatric dental / orthodontic patients what are possible interrelationships between cross-bite malocclusions orthodontic extractions, airway,  head posture and tongue position.
• How is facial-type related to airway and malocclusion.
• Can we predict which patients are most likely to have an airway benefit from expansion?
• Prior to treatment, which specific orthodontic records, tests, consultations and informed consent forms are needed?

“Happily Balanced”
Successfully Balancing Life and Work
Here’s a novel thought: a successful, happy balance of life and work is not a series of random events. Rather, it’s based on self-knowledge, enthusiasm and creativity. It’s understanding your personal proportion of the time value of money and the money value of time.  

Chew on this reality, if you’re not happy with yourself how can others be happy with you?

This presentation will focus upon an entertaining and introspective look at achieving these goals. Participants are assured of a motivating, provocative and worthwhile experience.

Learning objectives:

• Learn the key ingredients for “sustained individual happiness”
• What does is mean to have “done your best”?
• What is “the time value of money and the money value of time?”
• Stress management: easier said than done