Families who have children with special health care needs face many challenges in securing the appropriate dental and health care services. Providing optimum oral health care for children with special health care needs starts with the creation of a shared philosophy of care between families and oral health professionals. Family-centered services and information enable parents and caregivers to access the best care for their child through a dental healthcare environment and professionals are responsive to the family's priorities and choices.

The National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center (OHRC) provides effective oral health resources, training, and technical assistance to oral health professionals who wish to provide dental care and services to children with special health care needs. They have developed a special care curriculum which presents information to help oral health professionals deliver health promotion and disease prevention services that address their unique oral health needs in a comprehensive, family-centered, and community-based manner. These five online modules are available free of charge on the OHRC website at https://www.mchoralhealth.org/SpecialCare/.

Each module contains downloadable tools, an explanation of techniques, and information about federal agencies and national organizations that may serve as additional resources for information and services. Upon completion of the course, you have the option to complete the Post-Test and register for continuing education credit.

For further information about this course, the OHRC, and other resource they provide, please visit their website at https://www.mchoralhealth.org/.