A self-study continuing education course co-written by ETSU professors Debbie Dotson and Michelle Johnson and Milligan College professor Christy Isbell has been published in two national peer-reviewed continuing education journals.
The course appeared in “Dimensions of Dental Hygiene” and “Decisions in Dentistry.”
The course titled, “Caring for children with sensory processing disorders” started as a regional CE event through a grant from ETSU to further educate dentist professionals how to provide services to children with sensory processing disorders.
Matthew Toliver, a clinical psychologist and assistant professor at ETSU, was also instrumental in the course event.
“We are hoping that through this continuing education study published in these journals, that we can reach dentist professionals all across the country, so they are better qualified and more confident to work with children with sensory processing disorders, so these children have better experiences at the dentist,” said Dotson, who is an associate professor in ETSU’s Dental Hygiene program.
The information in the course gives extra pointers for environment adaptability, strategies, approaches and tips for dental professionals to follow for children with sensory processing disorder to make the experience more positive.
Dotson explained that sensory processing disorder is related to the ability of the human brain to integrate sensory information correctly.
“There are sensory avoiders and sensory seekers, so the sensory avoiders are the ones that we have the most issues with at the dental clinic,” said Dotson.
If a sensory avoider becomes sensitive to an element of sight, sound, touch, or taste in the clinic, their autonomic nervous system can kick in, and it’s that fight, flight or freeze moment for the child, according to Dotson.
“Even florescent lights have a buzz to them that most of us can tune out, but a child with sensory processing disorder who is sensitive to sound is going to notice that,” said Dotson. “It could even cause a painful response for them, so we cannot assume that it is always a behavioral issue when talking about children.”
According to Johnson, who works in ETSU’s Department of Rehabilitative Health Sciences, and Dotson, finding the small identifiers of the disorder is crucial to better understand the patient to avoid the potential of fear and anxiety.
Johnson has a three-fold experience with sensory processing disorder within Leadership Education in Neurodevelopment Disabilities, working at a local pediatric clinic and having a child with mild sensory issues.
Johnson and Dotson’s goal are for students and dental professionals to be better prepared and trained in the future.
To learn more about the Dental Hygiene program, visit www.etsu.edu/crhs/allied-health/dhyg.
