Pennsylvania Dental Journal Pennsylvania Dental Journal - Achieva

• Establish regional centers across
the state to allow for different levels
of dental treatment utilizing intravenous
and general anesthesia as
a referral network for patients who
are resistant to dental treatment in
an office setting.
• Require exposure to special needs
patients in dental school as part of
the curriculum. Patients can be
prescreened, and the student can
be educated on what to expect. Any
exposure would be an improvement
on current practice.
• Provide additional training in
post-doctoral residency programs.
Specialties could be developed.
• Participate in a local program, like
Special Smile LTD or Elwyn, who
32 September/October 2007 • Pennsylvania Dental Journal
Seeking Access Solutions For Special Needs Patients
provide hands-on instruction for
dental students and community
dentists interested in expanding
treatment options for patients with
disabilities. Our profession could
take it a step further and create
mini-residencies for dentists who
want to treat patients requiring
intravenous sedation and general
anesthesia.
• Treat a patient with special needs,
at least one more than you did last
year. Let’s show the legislators,
advocates and caregivers that patient’s
needs come first.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Dr. Wayne Zaayenga started working
with special needs patients at Devereux,
a care home facility, as a part time
FPO
dentist upon
graduation
from Temple
University
School of
Dentistry. He
soon realized
the unmet
dental needs
and the number
of patients
required a
full time commitment, and he dedicated
his last 18 years to caring for the
residents. Go to www.Devereux.org to
learn more about this program
providing services around the nation
for persons with emotional, developmental
and educational disabilities.