Suggested Reading

1.Examine the health history form currently used in the office for questions relevant to mental health. Discuss adding appropriate questions to the form, if needed.

2. Think about a patient in your practice and what his/her mental health status might be. Using references noted in this course or articles in reputable clinical and scientific journals, research the condition to learn more about it, learn potential problems of oral health care management, and seek effective solutions.

3. Take a continuing education course on mental illness and/or treating the oral health needs of patients with mental illness.

• One self-study program, Dental Treatment of the Patient with a Psychiatric
Disorder, is offered through the Dental Education in Care of Persons
with Disabilities (DECOD) Program of the University of Washington
School of Dentistry. For information, write Box 356370, University
of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, or call 206/543-1546.
• Another self-study course, offered through the Southern Association of
Institutional Dentists, is Clinical Concerns in Dental Care for Persons
with Mental Illness. Contact Donna Spears, DDS, Box 258, Butner, NC
27509-0258.
• Consider joining Special Care Dentistry, Academy of Dentistry for Persons
with Disabilities. This association meets annually in Chicago and
offers continuing education courses relevant to treating persons with
mental illness.Write 211 E. Chicago Ave., 5th Floor, Chicago, IL
60611. 312/440-2660; Fax: 312/440-2824; e-mail
specialcaredent@yahoo.com; on the Web: www.SCDonline.org