As the dental profession continues to evolve, persistent gaps remain in who enters the profession, who advances, and whose contributions are most visible and valued. These gaps are shaped not only by individual experiences, but by broader structural and social forces, including limited exposure to dentistry, restricted access to professional networks, and geographic and economic constraints that influence educational and care pathways. These same forces also shape patient experiences within oral health systems.  

This installment of The Pulse of Progress: Legacy Builders in Oral Health speaker series examines how stigma, chronic stress, and prior negative healthcare encounters influence oral health behaviors, trust, and outcomes, particularly among communities that have historically faced barriers to access and representation. Framed through a patient-centered and context-responsive lens, the session explores why many individuals delay or avoid dental care, experience heightened anxiety, or develop long-term distrust of providers, and how these patterns contribute to persistent oral health disparities.
 
Taking a population-level perspective, the session highlights how social and environmental factors intersect with oral health education and clinical practice, influencing preventive care engagement, health behaviors, and disease risk. Participants will gain insight into how dental education and training can intentionally equip clinicians to recognize these dynamics, strengthen provider–patient relationships, and support more equitable oral health outcomes across diverse communities. 

The Pulse of Progress: Legacy Builders in Oral Health Speaker Series is designed to amplify the significant yet underrecognized contributions, challenges and successes of voices that have been historically eclipsed within the oral health field. This series responds to those realities by creating space for thoughtful dialogue, connection and shared learning. Through meaningful conversations and expert insights, this series aims to dismantle these barriers, highlight pathways, foster a sense of community and inspire future leaders in the oral profession.    

Learning Objectives 

Explain how stigma, chronic stress, and prior healthcare experiences influence patient engagement, trust, and oral health behaviors, with implications for teaching and clinical supervision. 

• Explain how stigma, chronic stress and prior health care experiences influence patient engagement, trust and oral health behaviors, with implications for teaching and clinical supervision.
• Describe how social and environmental factors intersect with oral health education and clinical training to affect preventive care engagement and disease risk.
• Assess the relevance of these dynamics for curriculum design, learner assessment and provider–patient communication in educational settings.
• Identify instructional and practice-based strategies that faculty can integrate into teaching and clinical training to strengthen patient engagement and oral health outcomes.

Original Release Date:  May 14, 2026 

Expiration Date:  May 14, 2029 

Questions?  Contact learn@adea.org 

Teaching Method: Lecture  

Disclaimer  

The purpose of this program is to educate and inform. Information provided in this program is not a substitute for professional care and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or treatment of individual conditions. Guests at this presentation express their own experience, opinions and conclusions, which do not necessarily reflect those of their employer or any organization or group with whom they may be affiliated. Expressed viewpoints and opinions by speaker(s), presenter(s), guest(s) and/or facilitator(s) are also not those of the American Dental Education Association (ADEA), ADEA staff or the ADEA Board of Directors. The mention of any product, service, organization, activity or therapy should not be construed as an endorsement by ADEA.  

CE Information 

ADEA is an ADA CERP recognized provider. 

ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry. Concerns or complaints about a continuing education (CE) provider may be directed to the provider or to the Commission for Continuing Education Provider Recognition at CCEPR.ada.org. 

ADEA designates this activity for 1.0 continuing education credits. 

CE credit is awarded for overall participation in the ADEA eLearn Webinar, "From Stigma to Treatment: Strengthening Trust and Engagement in Oral Health Care."

All speakers agree that neither they nor members of their immediate family have any financial relationships with commercial entities that may be relevant to their presentation.

Technological Assistance 

For technological assistance, please reach out to the ADEA eLearn team at learn@adea.org.  

Content Questions  

For questions related to the content or educational materials, please reach out to the ADEA eLearn team at learn@adea.org.  

Membership Assistance 

For membership related questions (e.g. login issues, password reset, etc.), please reach out to the ADEA membership team at membership@adea.org.