Dental therapists win research award to improve dental care for autistic patients

Sian Cooper and Allie Crisp, dental therapists at Community Dental Services CIC (CDS), have been named the recipients.

The accolade comes with funding to support vital research into improving dental care pathways for autistic child patients treated by CDS in Derbyshire.

Working alongside Suneeta Prasad, CDS senior dental officer with responsibility for research at CDS, the study will explore how dental care can be better tailored to meet the needs of autistic children. The research will include in-depth interviews with autistic children, their parents, and CDS dental professionals, as well as a review of current care pathways. The aim is to identify areas for improvement that can lead to more positive patient experiences and better oral health outcomes.