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Special Health Care Needs

132 - Transition of Dental Care for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities

Friday, May 24, 2024
10:45 AM – 10:55 AM EST
Location: Exhibit Hall (back left corner of the hall, space 137)

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Mark Veazie, DDS

    Resident
    University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
    University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • SC

    Scott Cashion, DDS, MS

    University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

  • KD

    Kimon Divaris, DDS, PhD

    University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

  • JG

    Jeannie Ginnis, DDS

    University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

    • Research Mentor(s)

  • JG

    Jeannie Ginnis, DDS

    University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States

    • Program Director(s)

  • SC

    Scott W. Cashion, DDS, MS

    Associate Professor
    University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States

Abstract:



Purpose: The aim of this qualitative research study was to examine families’ experiences and stakeholders’ views regarding dental care transitioning from pediatric to general dentistry for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in North Carolina.



Methods: Semi-structured interviews were carried out with IDD individuals’ families (n=19), pediatric and general dentists (n=9), and 3 state/national-level policymakers and experts. Participants were identified via email and social media postings through IDD advocate organizations. An inductive coding process was employed to identify major emerging themes using MAXQDA software.



Results: Families reported facing multiple barriers to accessing adult oral healthcare, including finding providers comfortable with treating IDD individuals, low Medicaid acceptance by providers, and traveling long distances for appointments. Many families no longer sought oral healthcare services due to frustrations over long waitlists, providers not accepting new patients, or due to other high-priority needs including housing and behavioral/physical therapy. Dental providers implicated low reimbursement rates and cumbersome administrative costs as reasons for low Medicaid participation and suggested that most providers and their staff lack training and equipment to properly care for patients with IDD. Policymaker and expert interviews illuminated multiple system-level barriers to dental transition, including offices using discriminatory practices of accepting new patients, imbalanced distribution of dental providers particularly in rural areas, and lack of IDD-related education within dental school curricula.



Conclusion: IDD individuals face many barriers when attempting to transition dental care. The study’s results highlight several areas that must be addressed to increase successful dental care transition for this vulnerable population.   

Identify Supporting Agency and Grant Number:

Research supported by UNC IRB 22-0962