UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry Opens Specialty Dental Clinic for Patients with Special Needs

2024-02-10 04:31:44

UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry has opened a specialty dental clinic, the first of its kind in an academic setting in South Texas that will serve people of all ages with intellectual, developmental, cognitive or physical disabilities.

With spacious, specially designed treatment rooms that include adjustable sound and lighting and even a multi-sensory “Zen Dan” room to help reduce anxiety, Phil and Karen Hank’s specialty therapy clinic occupies approximately 4,300 square feet on the first floor of the school’s center. Oral Health Care and Research, at 8210 Floyd Curl Drive. The clinic is named after philanthropists in the San Antonio area who provided seed money for the project. Phil Hank, DDS, is a retired pediatric dentist.

The state-of-the-art space includes seven dental treatment rooms and five rooms equipped with conscious sedation, all to accommodate those with special needs and provide services for up to 40 patients a day. The clinic will serve the community and provide training to students.

There are many barriers to the current model of oral health care for people with special needs. At the heart of the issue is a lack of trained personnel and willingness to provide services to this population.”

Jennifer Farrell, DDS, DABSCSD, is the clinic’s inaugural director

In one study, only 10% of the dentists who responded to the survey reported treating people with special needs and only one in four students had practical experience with those patients during dental school.

“Dental educational institutions are the vital link in building a physician base that will provide services to this significantly disadvantaged population,” said Peter M. Lommer, DDS, PhD, MBA, dean of the UT Health School of Dentistry in San Antonio.

serves essential functions

The clinic serves three essential functions. In addition to seeing patients from throughout South Texas, the facility will provide academic and clinical training for specialty care dental students in several disciplines, including dental and dental hygiene, medicine, physician assistant and nursing. The clinic will serve as a resource for community dentists and social service providers, not only as a referral source but also to disseminate information and progress in treating people with special needs.

The clinic is based on the most comprehensive integrated dental practice in the region, where patients receive treatment from experienced dentists, renowned specialists, advanced residents or dental students under the supervision of the faculty of the state’s top-ranked dental school.

In addition to the generous support provided by the donors in their names, a federal Health Resources and Services grant of $2 million over five years is funding staffing and operating costs, and provider education. Also, $2.3 million from the Texas Department of Health Services’ Oral Health Improvement Program (OHIP) supports the goal of expanding oral care for those with special health care needs.

The spacious treatment areas allow for multiple access points depending on the management needs of the patients, and with plenty of space for patients and their family members or caregivers, while being private. Zen Den and Bubble Wall offer sensory regulation features.

The entrances, the reception area and the corridors are also designed to allow easy access, and with corridors that include a railing and bumpers for wheelchairs. Patients will have access to a wheelchair tilt if needed, although most patients will be able to receive care in their wheelchairs without a tilt.

Comprehensive examinations will determine the most appropriate level of sedation for the patient, with five suites specially designed with the latest equipment to provide full treatment along with conscious sedation. The location of the clinic within the Center for Oral Health and Oral Research gives access to additional treatment spaces that allow complete sedation if necessary.

“We provide a full range of preventive, routine and comprehensive dental care for all ages and dental needs,” said Michaela Gibbs, DDS, MHA, clinical associate professor and chief dental officer of the UT Health School of Dentistry in San Antonio. “Personalized treatment plans are created based on the patient’s unique set of circumstances and tolerance to treatments.”

what to expect

The first visit will usually include a comprehensive evaluation of the mouth, x-rays, cleaning, fluoride application, tailored instructions for oral hygiene care and nutritional guidance, and development of a tentative plan for ongoing care – and will take between one and two hours.

The clinic accepts Medicaid for qualified patients under the age of 21 and select dental insurance. Third-party financing options are available for patients who require a payment plan.

As the founding director of the clinic, Farrell brings over 30 years of experience in providing care to patients with disabilities. Prior to joining here, she was the Director of the Special Patient Care Dental Program at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago for 13 years and has treated special needs patients through that program for more than 28 years.

In 2021, Farrell received the Lawrence J. Chasko Distinguished Service Award from the Society of Special Care Dentistry.