Behavioral Guidance and Management for the Pediatric Dental Patient

Behavioral Guidance and Management for the Pediatric Dental Patient is organized by The DALE Foundation. This course has been approved for a maximum of 6 CDE credits.

Access to course:
6 months from purchase

Description:
The Behavioral Guidance and Management for the Pediatric Dental Patient online interactive course was created in response to a survey of American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) members, in which respondents indicated a need for a greater level of dental assistant competency in working with pediatric patients. Beginning with an overview of guidelines and concepts specific to pediatric dentistry, this dynamic course offers information on mandated reporting, family-centered care, communication management, assent and informed consent, and the importance of adaptability when working with pediatric patients. The remainder of the course is divided into separate modules addressing the specific milestones and unique needs of individual pediatric age groups (0-3, 3-6, 6-12, and 12-18) as well as children and some adults with special needs.

Offering practical strategies and techniques, this course will help you better understand and even anticipate the mental, emotional and social needs of children — and how to adapt to each developmental stage. By guiding you through such issues as selecting appropriate language and building rapport, this course introduces you to accepted methods you can use every day to ensure that young patients, along with their parents or guardians, feel comfortable during dental visits and procedures. You will also have an opportunity to practice these techniques in virtual patient scenarios and review the responsibilities of your role as it applies to patient care. As with other courses from the DALE Foundation, you may take printable notes along the way. You will also be able to access valuable course resources like AAPD guidelines and sample informed consent forms, even after the course expiration date.

Objectives:
Completing this course in Behavioral Guidance and Management of the Pediatric Dental Patient will improve your confidence and facilitate cooperation when working with pediatric as well as special needs patients.
By the end of the course, learners will be able to:
• Understand age-specific mental, emotional and social developmental features of the pediatric dental patient
• Recognize the importance of flexibility and adaptability when working with pediatric and special needs patients
• Communicate and respond appropriately when faced with challenging behaviors in pediatric and special needs patients
• Apply commonly used behavior management techniques to virtual interactions with pediatric and special needs patients