For third-year student Rebecca Odeh, her passion for patients has flourished through the Special Care Dentistry Association (SCDA) student network and hands-on experiences serving in the Delta Dental Urgent and Special Care Clinic.
As president of SCDA, Odeh leads one of the school’s largest student organizations, involving nearly half of Marquette School of Dentistry’s (MUSoD) students. MUSoD’s SCDA chapter enjoys national recognition as an organization dedicated to improving the oral health outcomes of individuals with special needs.
“It says a lot about Marquette that so many students are involved in the group,” says Odeh. “We genuinely care about treating all patients.”
SCDA hosts an annual public education event on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, held this year on Dec. 3, to raise community awareness and foster acceptance of individuals with disabilities. The event allows patients and caretakers to interact with certain devices and physical movements that may impact everyday life.
“We help people see why it can be difficult for someone with a disability to brush their teeth and do other tasks one normally wouldn’t think of as hard,” she adds. “Through this event, we increase empathy as they can better understand where the patient’s coming from.”
Learning in the Special Care Clinic
Odeh’s leadership in SCDA is reinforced by her clinical experience in the Delta Dental Urgent and Special Care Clinic, a new state-of-the-art facility on campus that makes dental care more accessible and comfortable for patients with intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities.
“I love that we get hands-on experience in the clinic,” she says. “In the future, we’ll have more confidence in knowing how to treat these patients because we’ve had this experience at Marquette.”
One of Odeh’s most memorable cases involved a young patient with autism who was apprehensive about getting a cleaning. When the patient began fidgeting, Odeh took extra time to explain what she was doing to help the patient feel safe.
“Once patients realize that you’re going to accept them and not judge them, they feel really comfortable,” she explains. “Then they embrace learning more about their oral health, which keeps them coming back for the care they need. It’s a big benefit for my future that I was able to engage with that patient in the clinic.”
Inspiring the Future of Dentistry
Odeh hopes to carry her passion for accessibility into her future practice, while helping shape a more inclusive future for the profession as a whole.
“I want my practice to be accessible to all patient groups,” she shares. “I’d also love to mentor others so they’re more comfortable with these patients. I want my colleagues to see it not as a difficult case, but as a fun case that can really impact someone’s life.”
She encourages alumni and current students to get involved with SCDA to share knowledge or support students in attending the annual SCDA conference.
“There’s always room to grow, and we’re really open to anyone reaching out and engaging with us,” she says.
This article was first featured in the 2025 issue of the Dental School magazine, Dental Images.
