Program Description
Recorded: April 11, 2025 – Did you know that oral health and disability affect each other? Maintaining good oral health can be challenging for individuals with disabilities due to physical, sensory, or cognitive barriers. Brushing and flossing may be difficult for those with limited mobility, medical conditions, or difficulty understanding the process—yet oral health is essential to overall health and should never be overlooked.
Join University of Maine Dental Hygiene students in this interactive webinar as we explore tools and techniques designed to support individuals with disabilities in maintaining oral hygiene. We’ll discuss who to turn to for dental care in Maine and highlight adaptive toothbrushes and flossers, motivational gadgets, alternatives to traditional brushing, and teaching tools for all learners. Additionally, we’ll explore sensory-calming techniques that can make daily oral care and dental visits easier and more comfortable.
Target Audience:
Dental and Healthcare Professionals, Occupational Therapists (OT), Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP), Physical Therapists (PT), Case Managers, Care Coordinators, Residential Staff & Facilities, Caregivers, and Family Members who support individuals with disabilities in maintaining oral health.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Recognize why dental care is as important as overall healthcare, particularly for individuals with disabilities.
- Identify three or more assistive devices or strategies to improve oral care at home.
- Name one calming technique to help make dental visits less stressful.
This session provides practical solutions and valuable resources for improving oral care accessibility and ensuring successful dental experiences for individuals with disabilities.
Presenters
Amie M. Lloyd, RDH, MSDH – Amie is a dental hygiene educator and clinician with over 20 years of experience in patient care, teaching, and community outreach. As a Lecturer at UMA-Bangor, she prepares future dental professionals to serve diverse and underserved populations, with a focus on inclusive patient care and accessibility. Passionate about health equity and education, Amie’s personal experience with dyslexia and ADHD fuels her commitment to supporting neurodivergent students and improving oral health access for those in need. She has worked extensively with refugee communities, individuals with disabilities, and at-risk populations, helping to break down barriers to care. Her research and advocacy continue to shape a more inclusive, compassionate, and accessible future in dental health.
Melissa Bliss, MS OTR/L – Melissa is an occupational therapist and assistive technology specialist at Maine CITE, the state assistive technology program in Maine. She has worked in a wide variety of educational and clinical settings as an OT, including home health, nursing homes, early intervention, schools, acute care, rehab, and as a program coordinator for an AT lending library and reuse program in Portland. Melissa joined Maine CITE in July, 2022, where she focuses on ensuring that all Maine people have better access to and information about the technologies and adaptive equipment they need to lead full and productive lives.
Dental Hygiene Students, University of Maine at Augusta-Bangor – Amie’s class, “Oral Health Considerations for Targeted Populations”, prepared, and will participate in presenting this webinar.
Resources
Please note that a certificate of attendance is not provided for watching the recorded webinar. To receive a certificate of attendance you must have attended the live training, completed the evaluation, and included your email address.
Resources discussed in webinar:
Oral Care and Disability: Helpful Tools and Strategies PowerPoint – PDF
Oral Care and Disability: Helpful Tools and Strategies Handout – PDF
Rev: 5/16/2025