Two dental therapists have been awarded the Robin Davies Dental Care Professional (DCP) Research Award 2025 to help improve dental care for autistic children.

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.

Sian 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 and Dental Research Trust and honour Professor Robin Davies’ contribution to dental research. A maximum of four awards are granted each year that support innovative studies led by DCPs.

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