Oral Health In Diverse Populations

This course introduces the dental assisting student to diverse populations that they will encounter in the dental office. Emphasis is placed on the concepts of equity, diversity and inclusion, as they apply to the management of the unique challenges that individuals may face accessing dental care. Topics of focus include gender awareness, special needs and exceptionalities, cultural competency, and indigenous awareness. This course will also introduce the student to the unique treatment considerations for the paedodontic client, seniors, the fearful client, and introduce the concepts of trauma informed care. The dental assisting student will be creating an inclusive and engaging lesson plan using the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principals, for a target population/community group of their choice. The dental assisting student will also explore the role of the dental assistant in a public health setting, and how this relates to improving accessibility for individuals that have a low economic status.