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Evaluation

Seminar - 60 Minutes

Tiny Teeth, Big Smiles: Gold Standard Interactional Skills with Child Dental Patients

Wednesday, April 9, 2025
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM East Coast USA Time
Location: Seminole A-B
Earn 1.0 CE Credit

    Speaker(s)

  • Daniel W. McNeil, PhD

    Chair and Endowed Professor
    Department of Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science, University of Florida College of Dentistry
    University of Florida College of Dentistry

  • Mary Lynne Davis, CRDH

    Clinical Research Coordinator
    University of Florida
    University of Florida

    • Moderator(s)

  • Gina Sharps, MPH, RDH, CTTS, FADHA

    Executive Director
    West Virginia Oral Health Coalition, Inc
    West Virginia Oral Health Coalition, Inc.

Disclosure(s):
Daniel W. McNeil, PhD: No financial relationships to disclose
Mary Lynne Davis, CRDH: No financial relationships to disclose
Gina Sharps, MPH, RDH, CTTS, FADHA: No financial relationships to disclose
Session Description: This seminar is an introduction to the newly-developed Dental-Child Interaction Training (DCIT) program that is available for general practice dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, and other dental providers in providing care for children ages 1-10. DCIT involves training dental professionals on a set of evidence-based skills proven to quickly develop rapport with children, while increasing their cooperation and comfort level. Videos of providers using these skills during dental procedures will be used in the seminar to demonstrate the “do” and “don’t” skills of DCIT in the oral healthcare setting. The format is interactive, providing opportunities for participants to identify possible ways to engage with children, and to manage challenging behaviors. The focus is on evidence-based interactional skills with children in a structured, safe environment that encourages positivity. The seminar provides evidence for the effectiveness of DCIT continuing education training that fully engages participants, including practice of skills to fluency.