Project Description:
The WIHD Dental department provides comprehensive dental services for individuals with developmental disabilities including both children and adults. We serve approximately 1600 patients or 7,000 visits annually and continue to grow. Our program consists of four dental suites in our stationery center and our Mobile Dental Van outreach program serving agencies and group homes located in the upper and lower Hudson Valley region of NYS, both operational on a full time basis. Accessing dental care for the special needs population is not readily available in the community setting therefore we are continually striving to meet the dental needs of persons with disabilities by providing resources to eliminate the many barriers encountered.
We provide services ranging from routine preventive care, all phases of general dentistry and administration of oral anxiolytic medication at our facility. For those individuals requiring a higher level of sedation that outpatient oral premedication does not provide, referrals can be scheduled for IV Sedation and General Anesthesia at our hospital affiliations and hospital general dentistry and oral surgery residency programs. The oral surgeons designate one morning a week to provide IV conscious sedation for our patients requiring extractions and related oral surgical procedures that cannot be completed on an out patient basis and/or require a specialist?s expertise. Many of our patients require general anesthesia for their dental treatment. Due to the demand for hospital OR time and so few hospitals and providers available to provide this service in NYS, there is a 8 month - 1 year waiting list depending on the location for this service for individuals with developmental disabilities. Fortunately at WIHD we are able to assist our patients in obtaining the necessary dental treatment under general anesthesia and locating providers with OR privileges at Westchester Medical Center with availability twice a week. Even with this access there is still a 3-4 month waiting list for our patients. Our goal along with the goal stated in the NYS Oral Health Plan is to decrease this waiting time by recruiting more providers and hospitals to serve individuals with developmental disabilities in need of OR dentistry.
Our staff of dentists and hygienists has dedicated most of their careers to improving the oral health of individuals with developmental disabilities. We are active in the national organization, Special Care Dentistry Association, members of the NYS Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Special Care Dentistry Task Force, members of the local Ninth District Dental Society Individuals with Disabilities Committee and each year volunteer for the local Special Olympics Special Smiles Program. All of our dentists have obtained their NYS Enteral Conscious Sedation certificate to better serve the needs of our patients requiring oral anxiolytic medication for their dental treatment. On a daily basis the medical and dental staff works together as a team with a multi-disciplinary approach to ensure quality care for each individual. Preventive dentistry is our primary focus of the WIHD Dental Department and each visit is valued as a teaching moment with our patient and/or staff/caregiver as we constantly stress the importance of good oral health as an integral part of ones overall well being.
Keyword(s):
dental services, special needs dentistry, developmental disabilities
Core Function(s):
Performing Direct and/or Demonstration Services, Developing & Disseminating Information, Continuing Education/Community Training
Area of Emphasis
Health-Related Activities
Target Audience:
Professionals and Para-Professionals, Adults with Disabilities, Children/Adolescents with Disabilities/SHCN
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances
Primary Target Audience Geographic Descriptor:
Mulit-County, State
COVID-19 Related Data:
N/A
