Special Needs Dentistry Training and Education for Preparedness in the Oral Health Therapy curriculum: Taking a STEP Forward

Abstract

People with disability experience significantly poorer oral health than the general population, largely due to persistent barriers in accessing dental care. Despite the recognition of Special Needs Dentistry (SND) as a specialty in Australia in 2005, the small number of registered specialists highlights the need to engage the broader oral health workforce in addressing inequities. The oral health workforce, consisting dental therapists, dental hygienists, and oral health therapists, represents a skilled yet underutilised workforce with considerable potential to play a greater role in SND. However, limited education and clinical training remain major barriers to their preparedness and confidence in SND care. While calls to strengthen SND education have increased in recent years, documentation of how SND is delivered in oral health curricula remains scarce. This thesis shifts the focus onto the oral health workforce, with the aim of investigating the educational preparation, perceptions, and to develop a SND curriculum framework for oral health therapy programs. A scoping review was initially undertaken to identify the global barriers and facilitators influencing practitioners’ willingness to provide dental treatment to people with disability. The subsequent phases examined the trends in SND education integrated in oral health programs and evaluated how these programs prepare students for clinical practice. The latter phases focused on understanding the perspectives of students and practitioners regarding their confidence, preparedness, and willingness to engage in SND care. Finally, to integrate the findings into a practical outcome, a Delphi study was conducted, which achieved expert consensus on a comprehensive SND curriculum framework for oral health therapists. It emphasises the integration of theoretical knowledge with clinical training, the development of communication and behaviour management skills, and a strong foundation in patient-centred care.