Bridging Autism Care: Dental and Occupational Therapy School Collaboration

This study examines the interdisciplinary collaboration between dental and occupational therapy schools to support dental education on autism spectrum disorder (ASD). An occupational therapy student created a recorded training module to educate international dental students on ASD. The participants completed a self-reported pre- and post-survey questionnaire examining their confidence levels in interacting with the ASD population and their awareness of other healthcare professions. The survey results showed improvements in confidence levels for identifying characteristics of ASD, communicating with clients with ASD, identifying sensory-based strategies, navigating uncooperative behaviors, and providing education for at-home care. There was an increase in the awareness that dental professionals' collaboration with other professionals, such as occupational, speech, and ABA therapists, can improve the outcomes of oral care that they provide. This study demonstrates the exploration of interdisciplinary collaboration between dental and occupational therapy at an academic level to support the dental experiences of the ASD population.