Attainment of optimal oral health and wellness is a challenging and dynamic process that occurs along the aging continuum for individuals with all types of disabilities and related special care needs. This lecture will review important challenges and considerations related to health prevention for individuals with special needs. Emphasis will be placed on ensuring safety, minimizing disease risks, maintaining function, and optimizing general and oral health-related quality of life.

Participants will learn:

• Identify desired health outcomes of implemented preventive strategies for individuals with special needs.
• Describe important variables that influence an individual’s ability to attain general and oral wellness.
• Identify components of a preventive practice plan to ensure patient safety.

Presenters:

Ann Eshenaur Spolarich RDH, PhD, FSCDH, Professor and Assistant Dean for Research, Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health, A.T. Still University

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Ann Eshenaur Spolarich is an internationally recognized author and speaker on pharmacology and the care of medically complex patients.  She has presented over 1,000 invited lectures and has over 125 professional publications.  She is Professor, Course Director of Oral Medicine and Pharmacology, and Assistant Dean for Research at the Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health, A.T. Still University (ATSU), where she teaches part-time in the Special Care Clinic.  Ann is also a faculty member in the NYU Langone AEGD residency program at ATSU.  Ann was awarded fellowship status in special care dental hygiene in 2016 and received the Education Award in 2021 from the Special Care Dentistry Association.