Project Description:
The Dental Services Project is designed to expand and improve access to dental health care and services for people with developmental disabilities. This involves dental care for the prevention of cavities, dental disease and treatment for dental maintenance and repair. Previous research indicates that Arkansans with developmental disabilities have insufficient access to necessary dental care compared to the general population. Most people with developmental disabilities are unable to pay for their own dental care and have no employer-provided dental insurance. There is currently no publicly provided dental program for adults with developmental disabilities who are in a non-institutional setting. Lack of proper dental care can worsen one’s health, leading to a greater cost of living and an added burden on one's social welfare and independence.
Through collaboration with The Arkansas Department of Health, and Arkansas Special Olympics Special Smiles, the project will develop an appreciation brochure to be distributed at Special Olympics, The Governor's Oral Health Summit, and the Arkansas State Dental meetings held each year. This brochure will be designed to develop an interest among dental professionals in treating patients with developmental disabilities. The project will create an informational and referral database for special needs patients.
A training plan will be instituted in order to prepare participating dental professionals for any special requirements and considerations for people with developmental disabilities receiving dental care. Within this process the identifying and recruiting of trainers and dental professionals will also be done. In addition to the initial training program for dental professionals, there will also be oral health education workshops for consumers and family members. There will be an ongoing source of technical support at their disposal for any questions or issues that may arise throughout the program and delivery of care.
Through collaboration with other members of the Oral Health Coalition, implement The Arkansas Oral Health Plan, the project will develop a comprehensive statewide oral health education and awareness program. This will be accomplished by designing an oral health education curriculum for elementary and secondary students and working with the appropriate decision and policy makers to promote oral health education as a mandated part of the school curriculum. This activity will address the needs of students with disabilities through a school-wide program, rather than through a program designed specially for students with disabilities.
A program such as this is an example of equal inclusion of all state citizens in public health programs. Lending consideration to cohorts in need has implications for long-term benefits for all state citizens. Health care research has shown that preventive dental care and prompt dental maintenance and repair is more cost-effective on a personal and systems-level than waiting for conditions to reduce the individual’s quality of life and become more expensive to treat. From a civil rights perspective, all people are entitled to an equal opportunity for public health programs. If a disparity is detected, such as in dental health, this area of weakness needs to be addressed to ensure equal opportunity. Programs that identify gaps in care from one segment of the population compared to another and attempt to deliver the services in a community-based setting are not only fairer for all citizens but also more practical than institutional-based dental care. The residual effects of neglecting health needs are typically debilitating to the individual, from a physical and moral standpoint, and to the public health system, from a standpoint of costs-effectiveness.
Medical studies also show that healthy teeth and gums enable people to have better diets with the ability to eat and digest healthier foods that are sometimes avoided when dental health is poor. Providing basic dental care from a publicly provided program enables those in need to channel their personal resources to other lifestyle needs, such as family and career. This fundamental level of support is truly a springboard of opportunity for pursuing a meaningful and fulfilling life. Access or denial to this small amount of support can make the difference between a person having no choice but to suffer, versus having a world of opportunity to pursue an equal opportunity lifestyle.
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Disadvantaged Circumstances, Geographic Areas, Rural/Remote, Specific Groups
