>> The presidents of both institutions, Pere Rotger and Diego González, visited the clinics this morning and acknowledged the commitment and rigor of the students and teaching staff.
Fifth-year Dentistry students at the ADEMA University School are participating in an intensive learning and clinical practice program with special needs patients in collaboration with the Joan XXIII Foundation of Inca. The initiative focuses on dental care for people with disabilities and associated pathologies, highlighting a healthcare reality that demands not only technical knowledge but also a solid medical background and strong communication and behavioral management skills.
This program is part of the collaboration agreement signed between the ADEMA+ Foundation and the Joan XXIII d’Inca Foundation, with the aim of integrating university training with clinical experience in real environments and, at the same time, guaranteeing dental care to groups in situations of economic and social vulnerability.
In this context, the Special Needs Patients course, taught by Dr. Catalina Bennasar, takes on essential value due to its clinical focus and the complexity of the cases addressed. Dr. Bennasar explained that “despite the diversity of situations, dental treatment is the same as for all other patients. The difference lies in how that treatment is accessed and the conditions under which it is performed.” The greatest challenge, according to the professor, is managing behavior. “In special needs patients, behavior is not a minor detail, but a determining clinical factor, and it varies enormously from one group to another,” she pointed out.
>> The program between both institutions strengthens the clinical preparation of future dentists in the care of people with disabilities and associated pathologies.
This means that future dentists must learn to read signals, anticipate reactions, modulate the pace of the intervention, and adapt their language, timing, and the dynamics of the consultation. In many cases, the therapeutic relationship begins before the patient even gets into the dental chair, in the way the patient is received, how the space is presented to them, and what stimuli surround them.
Adding to this complexity is a crucial factor: the frequent presence of associated systemic pathologies. Bennasar noted that “in most cases, these patients present with significant somatic problems, such as epilepsy, heart disease, or digestive disorders, which necessitates in-depth medical knowledge and more rigorous planning.” It’s not just about mastering dental technique, but about understanding how a systemic condition can influence treatment, what precautions should be taken, what warning signs to watch for, and how to coordinate, if necessary, with other healthcare professionals.
During their practical training, students practice decision-making in a wide range of scenarios. In some cases, oral health treatment can be achieved solely through behavioral management techniques employed by the professional. In others, it is necessary to combine this behavioral management with pharmacological support, adjusting guidelines and safety measures accordingly. And there are situations in which, even with these resources, it is not possible to perform the treatment safely in a conventional setting. In these cases, sedation or general anesthesia is used, administered by an anesthesiologist, ensuring the highest level of clinical control.
The program also reinforces environmental aspects that, in dentistry for patients with special needs, become part of the treatment. Dr. Bennasar emphasizes the importance of carefully managing the office environment, including warm colors, noise control, an appropriate tone of voice, music, and especially the demeanor of the support staff. These factors contribute to reducing anxiety, improving patient cooperation, and making the clinical experience more predictable and pleasant. Ultimately, in Dr. Bennasar’s words, it is “a type of dentistry where technique and empathy complement each other, and where the environment becomes another therapeutic tool.”
The presidents of the Joan XXIII Foundation of Inca and ADEMA, Pere Rotger Llabrés and Diego González, respectively, visited the various clinics where these internships are taking place today. They were able to observe firsthand the work of the students and the care provided to patients with special needs. Both congratulated the students on their dedication, their approachable manner, and the rigor with which they are undertaking this particularly demanding clinical training.
In this context, Pere Rotger emphasized that this program “allows us to offer our patients specialized dental care tailored to their actual needs, while also contributing to the training of professionals who understand the human dimension of medicine. We are very grateful to Dr. Catalina Bennasar for her long history of selfless collaboration with our center,” and he underlined that this project with ADEMA “is an example of how the union between a social entity and a university can generate a direct and positive impact on both patients and future dentists.”
For his part, Diego González pointed out that “our educational methodology based on service-learning projects with a strong social component is essential, because it prepares students to face complex clinical situations with technical competence and social sensitivity.”
The framework of collaboration with the Fundació Patronat Joan XXIII d’Inca allows this learning to take place in direct contact with the healthcare reality, in a space where students not only acquire advanced clinical skills, but also understand the social impact of their profession and the responsibility involved in caring for those who need it most.