Trauma-informed trainers for dentists? AC staff reporter looking for leads

Laurie,  I have sent this information to a dentist I know who trains others. I hope she'll follow through. Sincerely, Mary

Thank you Mary!

I have a good friend that works in a Community Center dental practice, and has difficulty himself because he also has a trauma background. I spoke with him a few days ago (I'm a coach, but have been trying to change my clientele from trauma to others - I get too triggered dealing directly with trauma myself) and we talked about a few things:

1. When you say YES, what are you saying NO to? If you're saying No to yourself you can't work effectively with trauma clients. You become a (-) in the world instead of being a (+).
2. Taking responsibility for things that aren't yours to own. He has struggled with his boss and others wanting to impose 'stuff' onto him, when he himself needs the downtime and the focus in his work to be effective in showing up for his clients.
3. A combination of boundary setting and creating a feeling of safety.

A lot of time, trauma victims show up with a lot of frustration and they take it out on the dentist. Being able to hold your own energy of presence and keeping yourself from being triggered is the key to being able to work with trauma background clients.

I can and am more than willing to expand on the training I already do and deliver and work with it online for dentists. Send me a note if you're interested.

Nikky

I would love to hear about whatever resources you might have to share! Have been trying to figure out how to get this type of training for dentists in our state, including asking our University of WA Dental School to consider developing a CDE training for pediatric and family dentists who participate in the Access to Baby and Child Dentistry program. I'd also love to submit an (engaging) article about this to our local dental society. Thank you!!

Thanks for those great tips Nikky!

Jennifer, Thanks for writing! There is apparently much interest in the topic. I'll be writing up a story that will appear just after the new year. Stay tuned!

Laura, a quick Google search led me to this presentation that was done in Missouri. The presenter's contact info is at the end. Maybe she can help? It also looks like the Illinois ACEs Response Collaborative has issued a brief for oral health providers and the Virginia Healthcare Foundation has looked at this as well.

We have done some general training for FQHCs that include dental providers and plan to include dental providers in a rural health training initiative that we developing for the spring. This is a relatively new discussion in our state - I can't wait to hear what you learn!

V

Thanks for writing Vanessa and for the presentation and tips. I really appreciate it!

I am a dental hygienist who has been called to this work.  I feel strongly that patient-centered care and building patient-provider relationships will lead to a future with less dental anxiety therefore less resistance to seeking care.

I am currently in a Master's program for I/O Psychology to prepare to teach students and practitioners TI dental care for better oral health outcomes.  It is critical to understand why an industry is they way it is and meeting the practitioners where they are before systemic changes can be made. 

If there is a loop to be in regarding this topic, I want to be in it.  I want to start a revolution in dentistry on how patient care is approached.  The future of successful dentistry is trauma-informed.

What do you all think about getting on a zoom call together and seeing how what each of us brings to the table could come together into a collaborative outcome? I have a facilitation method that I use that could help us find common ground. I could facilitate a zoom call early next week. Anyone interested?

I'm not sure I'd have much to contribute, but if I you all schedule something and wouldn't mind me listening in, I'd be happy to join, if it would fit in my schedule. I work in local public health and my schedule is very COVID-response heavy! So excited about this conversation!