New Dental Clinic for Medically Complex Patients Now Available at Eastman Institute for Oral Health
A new multi-million-dollar dental clinic is now available for people with medically complex conditions who have faced barriers to dental care for years.
This first-of-its-kind dental clinic in the region will serve adult patients with medically complex conditions and intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) at Eastman Dental, part of UR Medicine’s Eastman Institute for Oral Health. Children with medically complex conditions are seen by pediatric dentists at Eastman’s various locations and SMILEmobiles.
For adults experiencing cancer, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, heart conditions, obesity, IDD, pregnancy, HIV, and many other complex conditions, access to dental care can be very challenging because there are not enough qualified dentists who have the proper training or the facilities that can accommodate them.
Eastman Dental today unveiled its new seven-room Specialty Care clinic that provides both.
Located at its main building at 625 Elmwood Ave., highly trained dentists and dental specialists work closely with a patient’s physician to provide comprehensive care. The clinic features large treatment rooms and a new elevator to accommodate stretchers and wheelchairs. Also, a special lift for patients who are wheelchair bound, a bariatric chair, and other features help ease anxiety and provide a comforting experience.
With the addition of the new Specialty Care clinic, a fully comprehensive range of dental treatment is now available for patients with varying complex conditions. Geriatric, pregnant, and bariatric patients, in addition to those who have mild developmental disabilities or more complex medical conditions are seen in Specialty Care, and patients with child onset conditions such as cystic fibrosis, severe developmental disabilities, spina bifida, or patients on a ventilator are seen at the Complex Care Center. Patients who are hospitalized, medically fragile, or who require treatment in the operating room are seen at our facilities in the hospital.
“This three-tier approach provides patients with a team of doctors to focus on the patient’s individual needs,” said Eli Eliav, DMD, PhD, director, Eastman Institute for Oral Health. “Dentists, dental specialists, and physicians, nurses and others work closely together to provide the patient with optimal care, and allows us to use resources and expertise throughout the University.”
The new clinic will help meet the increasing demand for patients, many who travel from throughout New York and surrounding states to receive specialty care at Eastman.
The Specialty Care clinic also serves as a setting for educating the next generation of dentists and dental specialists.
“We’re addressing the significant shortage of qualified dentists to treat patients with medically complex conditions and intellectual and developmental disabilities through our advanced training programs,” explained Dr. Eliav. “Our graduates carry on the legacy of our founder George Eastman to treat the underserved, with no compromise to quality of care.”
The Specialty Care clinic marks the completion of a two-year Institute-wide renovation, including new sedation suites in the hospital clinic, updated existing treatment rooms, expanded faculty practice, new library and study area, increased conference and seminar room spaces and increased office space for faculty.
Dr. Wayne Lipschitz, professor in Clinical Dentistry with more than 20 years of experience treating patients with IDD, is director of the Specialty Care clinic. Patients or referring providers can visit the Specialty Care website or call the clinic at 585-341-6888.