Dental Schools with a Special Needs Focus

[smb660]

Any advice on choosing schools that have programs with direct attention to the older adult, physically and mentally challenged and/or complex medical histories?

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[super frank]

PITT

It was the only school I interviewed at that focused on treating special needs patients. I don't think many other schools in the country do that sort of thing.

 

[ncide]

Special needs training is also found in peds residency, so consider that if you are interested. In one of the offices I worked in prior to dental school we exclusively saw patients with developmental disabilities. Incredibly challenging, but also incredibly rewarding. That group of people tends to be very underserved. Good luck.

 

[Dr5paceman]

might be wrong but I think Maryland also has a special needs clinic

 

[ncide]

UW has a clinic specifically for special needs.

https://dental.washington.edu/patient/clinics/decod/

Just received an email from the Special Care Interest Group at VCU for some guest lecturers coming in to discuss special needs patients.

 

[princessdentist]

asdoh

 

[DMDDDSHopeful]

This is a great question. Volunteering with special needs and working directly with them is extremely challenging. I can only imagine how MUCH MORE challenging it would be to do this as a dentist. It's good to know that some programs do focus on this training. You definitely need some sort of training. But then again, experience is the best teacher for training so there's that too.

 

[Typical Average Student]

Also recommend Pitt.

 

[ahaw20]

ASDOH has an entire special needs clinic where they treat that demographic extensively while you're in clinic. It was one of the most impressive aspects of their school.

http://www.atsudental.com/dental_services/special_care_dentistry.aspx

 

[goutamk]

ASDOH

 

[SEW413]

Pitt and Tufts have great predoc experiences with special needs patients