Study Questions:

1. What barriers exist in the world of disability from the dentist’s perspective?
2. From the patient’s perspective?

From the dentists’ perspective …

• There exists a void in dental and dental hygiene school curricula, which has translated to a lack of exposure to and experience with disability among dental students.
• This has understandably led to reluctance to treat patients with disabilities.
• There may be a loss of revenue when treating this population. For example, consider the lower fee schedule for MassHealth, which pays for dental treatment for most persons with disabilities.
• Dentists may lack access to or be unfamiliar with special equipment that may be required.
• And they may fear that these factors will lead to ineffective treatment…whereas the truth is that most patients with disabilities can be successfully treated in a general dental office if time is taken to explain procedures and allay anxieties.                                 

From the disabled patients’ perspective …

• There is a scarcity of dentists who accept patients with disabilities.
• There is a lack of available and appropriate transportation, such as wheelchair cars.
• Financial constraints might stand in the way of treatment.
• Many parents are fearful and overprotective. They may also have concern that dental treatment may compromise their child’s medical condition.
• Adults with disabilities may have experienced very negative dental experiences in the past.