The University of Texas Health San Antonio School of Dentistry has opened a special care dental clinic, the first of its kind at an academic facility in South Texas. We serve people of all ages with intellectual, developmental, cognitive, and physical disabilities.
This state-of-the-art space features seven dental treatment rooms and five rooms with the ability to provide conscious sedation, all catering to patients with special needs and serving up to 40 patients per day. provide services. The clinic serves the community and provides training to students.
Numerous barriers exist to current oral health care delivery models for individuals with special needs. At the heart of the problem is a lack of a trained and willing workforce to serve this population. ”
Jennifer Farrell, DDS, DABSCSD, first director of the clinic
In one study, only 10% of dentists surveyed reported treating patients with special needs, and only 4% of dentists had experience treating such patients while in dental school. There was only one per person.
“Dental education institutions play a critical role in building the clinician base that serves this grossly underserved population,” said Dean of the UT Health San Antonio College of Dentistry. said Peter M. Loomer, DDS, PhD, MBA.
play an important role
The clinic has three important roles. In addition to seeing patients from throughout South Texas, this facility provides academic and clinical training to specialty care dentistry students across several specialties, including dentistry and dental hygiene, medical, physician assistant, and nursing. Offers. The clinic serves as a referral source for area dentists and social service providers as well as a resource for the dissemination of information and treatment advances for individuals with special needs.
The clinic is based in the region's most comprehensive general dental practice, with patients treated by experienced dentists, renowned specialists, advanced graduate residents, or dental students supervised by faculty from the state's top-ranked dental school. receive treatment from.
In addition to generous support from named donors, a $2 million grant over five years from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration will cover staffing, operational costs, and training for health care workers. Additionally, $2.3 million from the Texas Department of State Health Services Oral Health Improvement Program (OHIP) supports the goal of expanding oral care for people with special health care needs.
The spacious treatment area offers multiple access points based on patient management needs, providing privacy and ample space for patients, their families, and caregivers. The Zen Den and Bubble Wall offer sensory modulation.
The entrance, reception area, and hallways are also designed for easy access, with handrails and wheelchair bumpers installed in the hallways. Patients can use wheelchair tilt if needed, but most patients can be treated in their wheelchairs without tilt.
A comprehensive examination will determine which level of sedation is most appropriate for the patient. Our five suites are specially designed with the latest equipment to provide a complete treatment with conscious sedation. The clinic is located within the Oral Health Care Research Center, so additional treatment space is available to allow for full sedation if needed.
“We offer a wide range of preventative, routine and comprehensive dental care for all ages and dental needs,” said Dr. M., clinical associate professor and chief dental officer at UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry. said Michaela Gibbs, DDS, MHA. “A customized care plan is created based on the patient’s unique set of circumstances and tolerance to treatment.”
what to expect
The first visit typically includes a comprehensive oral evaluation, x-rays, cleaning, fluoride application, individualized instructions on home oral hygiene care and nutritional counseling, and development of a preliminary plan for continued care. included and takes 1-2 hours.
The clinic accepts Medicaid and has dental insurance options for eligible patients under 21 years of age. Third-party financing options are available for patients who require a payment plan.
As the clinic's founding director, Mr. Farrell brings more than 30 years of experience providing care to patients with disabilities. Prior to joining here, he served as director of the Special Patient Care Dentistry Program at the Chicago Advocate Medical Center, where he served as director of the Special Patient Care Dental Program at the Illinois Medical Center for 28 years, and through that program he served patients with special needs for 28 years. I've had more treatments.
In 2021, Mr. Farrell received the Lawrence J. Chasko Distinguished Service Award from the Special Care Dental Association.
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University of Texas San Antonio Health Science Center
