Perspectives on an Unconventional Partnership Between Occupational Therapists and Pediatric Dental Professionals.

Pediatric clients with disabilities are at increased risk for dental problems, including periodontal disease. Developmental delay and sensory processing dysfunction hinder acceptance of the stimulating dental environment and engagement in oral care routines at home. This health disparity is magnifie...

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Publicado en:Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT) Vol. 14; no. 2; pp. 1 - 9
Autores principales: Holsonback, Marissa, Douglas, Reeti, Gazdeck, Leslie
Formato: Journal Article
Publicado: Open Journal of Occupational Therapy Spring2026
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: Spring2026
      vid: 14
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      pid: 94241
      pub: Open Journal of Occupational Therapy
      place: Kalamazoo, Michigan
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        10.15453/2168-6408.2515
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        atl: Perspectives on an Unconventional Partnership Between Occupational Therapists and Pediatric Dental Professionals.
      aug:
        au:
          Holsonback, Marissa
          Douglas, Reeti
          Gazdeck, Leslie
        affil: Wingate University - USA
      sug:
        subj:
          Occupational Therapists Psychosocial Factors
          Dentists Psychosocial Factors
          Collaboration
          Dental Care for Children
          Dental Care for Disabled
          Pediatric Dentistry
          Oral Health
          Interprofessional Relations
          Dental Anxiety Prevention and Control
          Oral Hygiene
          Quality of Life
          Parents Education
          Dental Devices, Home Care
          Referral and Consultation
      ab: Pediatric clients with disabilities are at increased risk for dental problems, including periodontal disease. Developmental delay and sensory processing dysfunction hinder acceptance of the stimulating dental environment and engagement in oral care routines at home. This health disparity is magnified by many dental professionals' lack of training and confidence with children who have special needs. The holistic occupational therapy scope of practice is inclusive of oral care, pediatric diagnoses, sensory integration, and behavior management, allowing occupational therapists to collaborate with pediatric dental professionals to address the oral health disparity. This perspective manuscript provides occupational therapists with an evidence-supported understanding of the impact oral health has on occupational performance to motivate inclusion of oral care in the therapeutic process, stimulate interdisciplinary collaboration with pediatric dentists, and inspire research on the efficacy of occupational therapy in the dental setting. Proposed collaborative solutions to narrow the present disparity include occupational therapists' referrals to pediatric dental professionals trained in treating youths with disabilities, occupational therapist-led in-service training for dental professionals, concurrent treatment, and joint development of parental educational resources.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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