Personal attitudes and implicit biases: is this the real disability
Access to care is indeed a complex situation. Most barriers are well researched and identified. Access becomes even more complex when the patient is a person that requires special care for the provision of oral healthcare. There is plenty of evidence to indicate  that special care patients (as well as other minority groups) are underserved and as a consequence have significant oral health needs.
Attitudes or implicit bias is a mixture of beliefs, thoughts and feelings that predispose a person to respond, in a positive or negative way, to objects, people, processes or institutions. How well though are we preparing future oral health care providers when it comes to personal attitudes and implicit biases regarding individuals with disabilities, to meet the complex needs of this vast array of persons with disabling conditions? How can we measure them? And more importantly, can we hope to influence or change them?

Learning Objectives