Beyond Routine Care: A Mini Residency in Special Care, Geriatric, and Hospital Dentistry

This compact program will give you relevant and practical information from experienced experts in their disciplines related to geriatrics, hospital, and special care dentistry.

Receive up-to-date medical, dental and administrative information on:

• demographic, social, psychological, and biological characteristics of key adult populations with special care needs, including the elderly, physically disabled, neuro-developmentally disabled, and others with potential difficulty accessing oral health care
• medical concerns and medical risk assessment in older and medically complex adults
• the impact of drug therapy on oral health, dental care, and avoiding drug-related complications;
• providing dental clearances requested by medical teams for medical procedures and treatment
• treatment planning principles and strategies for patients with a variety of special care needs
• management of common ethical and legal issues for special needs patients (e.g., informed consent, assessment of decision-making, advanced directives, etc.)
• special needs patient management strategies and tips to facilitate access to care, common dental  procedures, patient communications, and comfort
• safe patient transfer techniques for patients with mobility limitations
• managing difficult patient behaviors
• preventive, caries, and periodontal management for patients with special care needs
• special patient care communication and documentation systems and strategies
• implementing dental programs for hospitals and long-term care facilities, including:
• designing an effective dental program (e.g., staffing, clinical and consultation models, equipment, office design)
• contracts and financial management
• organization, operations, staffing, credentialing, regulations, and protocols related to providing general dentistry in the hospital, operating room, and long-term care setting
• documentation requirements and writing effective hospital and long-term care orders
• preventive care issues and staff in-service training
• effective interaction with health care administrators, physicians, nurses, and other non-dental staff

Unique Benefits of This Exceptional Program

• This university-based Mini Residency is based on 30+ years of instructor experience
• Presented by an interprofessional faculty with extensive expertise in all aspects of geriatrics, hospital, and special care dentistry, the Mini Residency has provided training to practicing dental professionals from across the United States, Canada, and around the world
• Conveniently scheduled on three consecutive days allows for minimal time away from home and practice
• Held on-site at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry’s Continuing Dental Education and Special Healthcare Needs Clinic facilities.

Learn How To

• incorporate principles of medical management for special needs patients into the dental treatment plan
• recognize common drug-related oral health and dental treatment problems, and employ safe prescribing practices
• manage preventive care, root caries, periodontal problems other common dental challenges in special needs adults
• employ effective dental treatment planning principles and strategies
• apply appropriate practices for informed consent, assessment of decision-making, behavior management, interpretation of advance directives, management of potential neglect/abuse, and other ethical and legal concerns in patients with special care needs
• perform ergonomically sound and safe patient transfers for patients in wheelchairs
• improve accessibility and comfort of dental services for older adults 
• establish an effective dental program in hospitals and long-term care facilities, including contracts, staffing, communication systems, and selection of clinical delivery systems
• manage oral health concerns in palliative and end-of-life care
• work effectively with hospital and long-term care administrators, physicians, nursing staff, and other non-dental professionals
• document and bill appropriately for dental services provided to patients with special care needs, in hospitals, and in long-term care facilities
• integrate geriatrics, hospital, and special care dentistry into private practice

Training Methods

Illustrated lectures, discussion, observation, and demonstrations