The American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry: Eliminating Health Disparities for Individuals with Mental Retardation and Other Developmental Disabilities

Abstract

Recent reports by Special Olympics International and the U.S. Surgeon General have revealed significant disparities and unmet health needs encountered by persons with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities (MR/DD). Factors contributing to these disparities include deinstitutionalization, increased survival of individuals with MR/DD, lack of appropriately trained providers, and inadequate financing of dental services. To address these problems, a group of academically oriented dentists and physicians formed the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry (AADMD). The mission of the AADMD is to improve the quality of health services provided to persons with MR/DD by improving dental and medical schoolbased training of dentists and enhancing clinically relevant research. A central theme of the AADMD is full collaboration between physicians and dentists in meeting its goals. The National Action Strategy developed by the AADMD focuses on creating a series of university-based Developmental Medicine and Dentistry Programs (UDMDPs) in medical and dental schools, which collaborate in service, teaching, and research with community-based primary care clinics, community hospitals, intermediate care facilities, and other private service delivery systems such as the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes Program that serve these patients. Oral-systemic interactions will receive special emphasis by the training and research programs.

Preparedness and willingness of dental care providers to treat patients with special needs

“… 6 Their ability to physically access the dental clinics and offices, along with their ability to afford the cost of the treatment and inadequate financing for dental treatment, may hinder their access to dental clinics. 6 , 9 – 12 Moreover, the preparedness and willingness of dental care providers to treat patients with special needs may impact access and thus their oral health. 1 , 3 , 13 …”

“…Because this issue has an impact on the oral health quality of patients with special needs, many studies have pointed out dental students’ lack of attempts to treat patients with special needs and have documented that the predoctoral curricula for treating patients with special needs are inadequate. 9 , 18 Moreover, studies have documented that limited dental care providers offer to treat patients with special needs and there are few who are prepared to educate dental students to be more competent to treat these patients in the future. 9 , 19 Furthermore, the more experience dental students have with the patients with special needs, the more able and willing they are to handle these patients.…”

“… 9 , 18 Moreover, studies have documented that limited dental care providers offer to treat patients with special needs and there are few who are prepared to educate dental students to be more competent to treat these patients in the future. 9 , 19 Furthermore, the more experience dental students have with the patients with special needs, the more able and willing they are to handle these patients. 22 Finally, this highlights the importance of establishing high-quality dental education programs to prepare undergraduate dental students for and to increase their willingness to treat patients with special needs now and throughout their careers.…”

“…Several studies have been directed toward dental students and dental health care providers to measure the factors influencing their behaviors that may limit or improve the access of patients with special needs to dental clinics ( Table 1 ). 1 , 3 , 7 , 13 , 16 , 19 , 22 – 24 , 26 – 30 These studies attempted to measure the preparedness, 9 , 13 , 26 , 27 experience, 19 , 22 , 23 , 26 , 27 knowledge, 3 attitudes, 13 , 26 , 29 and perceptions 7 , 24 , 31 of the dental care providers in regard to treating patients with special needs. The studies were directed at different target populations, where some targeted decision makers at dental teaching institutions, 1 , 3 , 27 while others targeted clinical dental care providers 29 – 32 and some studies targeted alumni and/or current students.…”

Training caregivers: disabilities and dental hygiene

“…The lack of oral health in persons with developmental disabilities is prevalent and a concern to health professionals . Several studies have shown that oral health is important to maintain overall systemic health .…”