CDA Essentials 2016 • Volume 3 • Issue 8

20 | Volume 3 Issue 7 I ssues and P eople How are technologies making a difference? New technologies are making it easier to communicate; we can even do teleconsults with people at a distance. New technologies are also making it less complex to deliver care to someone in a wheelchair—we can now tilt people in their wheelchairs or use specific aids to help seat them in a chair. Any game changers? The game changer is the attitude. It’s an attitude that says I can problem solve and I don’t expect everyone to fit into my one way of doing dentistry. There is still a fear factor when it comes to treating people with disabilities and that perhaps is the biggest challenge to overcome. Are attitudes evolving? The iADH has developed very useful curricula guidance for both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. I think it’s important to make sure that dentists and dental students have access to diverse populations and people with disabilities. Because lots of people go through their lives without touching someone with a disability so they are quite reasonably scared. But evidence has shown that when people work with patients with special needs, are mentored and gain confidence, it’s the same as everything else—it’s not that complex. a Visit Oasis Discussions to watch Dr. Dougall’s full interview. oasisdiscussions.ca/ 2016/05/13/15688 This interviewhasbeeneditedandcondensed. Theviewsexpressedarethoseoftheauthorand donotnecessarilyreflecttheopinionsorofficial policiesoftheCanadianDentalAssociation. PDC_ASM_CDA_2017_half_page_for_print.pdf 1 2016-07-26 1:35 PM