Dental Specialty Care
Dental Specialty Care for Those with Special Needs
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Overview
At Eastman Dental, we believe in embracing your unique qualities. And if you have a special or complex condition, you need a dentist who understands you.
Several factors contribute to the poor oral health and hygiene of people with developmental disabilities, including physical limitations, complex medical conditions, behavioral issues, and increased incidence of early decay. Other challenges arise due to access, transportation, insurance, and the small number of available dentists who can accommodate the unique needs of this population.
We created Eastman Dental Specialty Care as an inclusive dental program that offers tailored, coordinated care to people who have complex conditions. Our team is qualified to treat patients with a variety of special conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, cancer, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and more. It’s a welcoming environment, staffed with dentists who understand people’s unique needs.
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Call (585) 341-6888UR Medicine's Approach
Our team includes general and specialty dentists. You will have a team of doctors that focuses on your specific needs and works together to develop your treatment plan. Depending on your condition, your team may include oncologists, dental specialists, primary care providers, or other types of physicians.
You may be treated by several different providers, so we assign you a guide who makes sure the process is as easy as possible. This guide coordinates your care by communicating with your physicians and other providers to make sure the information you receive is simple and clear.
Our goal is to create a place where patients can get all the specialty dental care they need in one location. Some of our special offerings include:
- Bariatric dental chairs
- Perinatal dental program for pregnant women
- SMILEmobile to visit group homes, schools, nursing homes, etc.
- Ability to accommodate larger wheelchairs and stretchers
- Modern facility providing comprehensive care in one setting
- Disease-specific care
- Special lift for patients using wheelchairs
- Telehealth services with medical doctors
Patient Stories
Three Hours One Way for Dental Treatment
Brenda Bidwell could tell her oral health was declining but the dental office she was going to closed during COVID. Eventually, she felt pain and swelling in her mouth. Eastman Dental, was the closest choice for her, even though it meant a three-hour one-way ambulance ride to transport her on a stretcher.
Bariatric Patient Finds Pain Relief at Eastman Dental
After four painful months of searching for a dentist and a three-hour drive, Michael arrived at Eastman Dental. Less than an hour later, his abscessed tooth was extracted by Dr. Nadia Stephens, assistant director of Specialty Care, and he was out of pain.
Patient with Special Needs Gets Emergency Treatment During COVID-19
There are not too many people who write thank you notes to their dentist.
But Janelle Wolff does. The 26-year-old has a special relationship with her dentist.
Janelle has Dubowitz Syndrome, a rare genetic condition that involves intellectual and developmental disabilities, several medical issues, and a very small jaw, creating numerous oral health challenges like crowded teeth and periodontal disease.
Having had failed experiences with other dentists, she was eventually referred to Dr. Wayne Lipschitz at UR Medicine’s Eastman Institute for Oral Health.
What Sets Us Apart?
For more than 40 years, Eastman Institute for Oral Health has had a team of compassionate providers who take extraordinary care of people with unique needs, including those with developmental or intellectual disabilities, cancer, or other medically complex conditions. We also focus on treating older adults, because medications and the natural aging process can create oral health challenges.
We take a team approach to give each patient comprehensive care. Our general dentists and dental specialists work with your medical doctor to ensure your treatment is precisely customized to you. You may be treated by several different providers, so we give you a guide who makes sure the process is as easy as possible. Our nurse navigator coordinates your care by communicating with your physicians and other providers to make sure the information you receive is simple and clear.