Principal Investigator:
Abrielle Lamphere, Clinical Assistant Professor, Allied Dental Education, School of Dentistry.
Project Title:
Integrating Acclimation Therapy into Dentistry Curriculum
Funding Level:
$5,000
Abstract:
Access to healthcare remains a significant challenge for individuals with special health care needs, particularly those with intellectu-al and developmental disabilities (IDD), who often experience barriers related to anxiety, sensory sensitivities, communication diffi-culties, and previous negative healthcare experiences. This study examined the integration of trauma-informed care and acclimation therapy principles into undergraduate dental hygiene education through experiential fieldwork, interprofessional collaboration with behavioral health professionals, and specialized training certification. Pre- and post-intervention surveys were used to evaluate changes in students’ self-perceived knowledge, confidence, perceptions, and preparedness when providing care for individuals with IDD, while a comparison group of non-participating dental hygiene students also completed survey measures. Findings indicated that students who participated in the training reported greater confidence in managing patient interactions, de-escalating stressful situa-tions, and delivering inclusive care for individuals with special healthcare needs. These findings suggest that integrating trauma-informed and acclimation-based training into dental hygiene curricula may enhance student preparedness to provide compassionate, patient-centered care and help address barriers to oral healthcare access for vulnerable populations.