Dr. Chantal Czerednikow, General Dentist from Montreal QC, hosts the latest education session from The Canadian Society for Disability and Oral Health. Featuring presentations from six expert panelists in language, advocacy and caregiving, this in-depth discussion addresses key topics in the politics of disability, including:
- Language and the politics of disability
- The importance of building relationships and making patients feel safe
- Provincial Government funding for patients with intellectual disabilities
- Common environmental and personal barriers to care
“We have to ask ourselves what we do and why we are dentists in the first place. It’s about having respect. Respect presumes equity”. Dr. Clive Friedman
We hope you find the conversation useful. We welcome your thoughts, questions and/or suggestions about this post and other topics. Leave a comment in the box below or send us your feedback by email.
Until next time!
CDA Oasis Team
Resources
What an incredibly powerful webinar! Thank you Dr Chantal Czerednikow for moderating and thank you to CDA Oasis for providing the platform. Also thank you panelists for comments that are spot on. Your experiences and views are so truthful and very inspirational for me.
I am a hospital dentist treating Special Needs adults under general anaesthesia who cannot otherwise be treated safely in an isolated setting like a stand alone dental office. Most of the patients that I treat are non-verbal, combative and many possess medical comorbidities.I am somewhat ‘seasoned’ having done this work at Trillium Health Partners, Credit Valley Hospital for the past 30 years.
I totally agree with all the comments expressed by the panelists. Understanding the patient, communicating and “feeling” what the patient feels are essential in fostering rapport. Taking the time to embellish the dental experience for not just the patient, but family and support workers speaks volumes to the virtues of the health care professionals that deliver this kind of care..
I often feel that the” thank you “I receive from patients and families far outweighs reimbursement.
Unfortunately, government sponsored dental plans seem to have ‘tugged’ .on the’ emotional strings’ of the few professionals who do this kind work, the expectation being that many services will be performed pro-bono. Truth is, this has historically been the case.
True, some families pay for what government plans do not, but there are far too many patients who do not receive the care that the general population does.Or they cannot access care because some offices do not accept government sponsored plans. Many special needs patients simply give up looking for care because it is too difficult for them to access..
Such a tragic social inequity.
I am at a loss as to where to start building momentum to affect change in this regard.
I want you to know that I really enjoyed the webinar.
Perhaps this will be where momentum for change begins?!
Thank you kindly!
Steve Lipinski DDS, DABDSM