Two of Community Dental Services CIC’s (CDS) Dental Therapists, Sian Cooper and Allie Crisp, have been named recipients of a Robin Davies Dental Care Professional (DCP) Research Award 2025.
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. Their 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.
Sian Cooper said, “We know that due to sensory processing difficulties, families with autistic children often struggle with dietary and toothbrushing routines. Combined with challenges in communication, social interaction, and resistance to change, this makes accessing dental care particularly difficult. Many children are referred to specialist services, but there is limited understanding of the patient journey within these pathways. Our research will help fill that gap.”
The Robin Davies DCP Research Awards are presented by Colgate and the Oral & Dental Research Trust and honour Professor Robin Davies’ contribution to dental research. A maximum of four awards are granted each year and support innovative studies led by DCPs.
CDS is a social enterprise providing high-quality dental care to vulnerable and underserved communities. This award highlights CDS’s ongoing commitment to inclusive care that makes a real difference in people’s lives.
