Nisonger Center is awarded $63,000 from The American Dental Association Foundation – Access to Oral Health Care for People with Special Needs Grant

The Ohio State University Nisonger Center, part of the Wexner Medical Center and Ohio State’s Neurological Institute; was recently awarded a 2-year $63,000 grant from the American Dental Association (ADA) Foundation. In August 2018, the ADA Foundation in partnership with Henry Schein Cares; rallied the dental community to raise funds to improve access to oral health care for people with special needs by providing grants to nonprofit organizations working to increase access to care for patients who, due to physical, medical, developmental or cognitive disabilities; require special consideration when receiving dental treatment; as standard dental procedures can often be more difficult.

This grant will be used to upgrade technology in Nisonger Center’s Dental Clinic; including 3 laptops, carts and sensors to take x-rays chairside, 5 electric hand pieces, cordless foot petal cavitron, cordless prophy attachments and spin toothbrushes.  We also expect to provide a more pleasant and positive patient encounter, especially for those with significant sensory processing disorders and symptoms; by reducing noises, vibrations and promoting a quieter, smoother, and less stressful experience.

There is a serious lack of oral health resources for adults with developmental disabilities; with very few providers and/or limitations in the services provided in the community. In addition, people with developmental disabilities generally have more dental disease and fewer resources to respond to these needs. Nisonger Center’s Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) Dental Program provides a complete range of oral health services to children and adults with developmental disabilities and other special needs and is the largest provider of oral health services for adults with developmental disabilities in Franklin County. Nisonger Center also provides training for students enrolled in dental and dental hygiene programs as well as postgraduate-level dental residents at The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, and provides technical assistance to community agencies and programs.

Read more about Nisonger Center’s Dental Program.