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Community-based dental services for patients with special needs.
1Department of General Dentistry, State University at Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine, USA.
The New York State Dental Journal
|March 31, 2001
Summary
Community dental care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) is increasingly needed. A New York State review suggests dentists can meet this demand if willing to provide services to this special needs population.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Access
- Special Needs Dentistry
- Public Health
Background:
- The deinstitutionalization movement has increased the need for community-based dental services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
- Providing dental care to patients with IDD presents unique challenges for community practitioners.
- Understanding the capacity of existing dental services to meet this growing demand is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the potential capacity of dental practitioners in New York State to serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
- To identify potential barriers and facilitators to dental care access for this population.
Main Methods:
- A county-by-county review of dental provider availability was conducted in New York State.
- Analysis focused on the estimated number of patients with IDD relative to the number of willing dental practitioners.
Main Results:
- The review indicated that in most counties, the number of individuals with IDD needing dental care is manageable if all dentists are willing to participate.
- A relatively small number of these special needs patients would fall to each willing dental practitioner.
Conclusions:
- Existing dental infrastructure in New York State has the potential capacity to meet the increased demand for services driven by deinstitutionalization.
- Willingness of dental practitioners to provide care is a key factor in ensuring access for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.