Overview
The purpose of the Special Health Care Needs Oral Health Program is to improve access to dental services for individuals with special health care needs (ISHCN). This program provides oral health educational materials, and courses to medical/dental professionals, lay health workers, caseworkers, educators, direct support professionals, students training for the dental profession, and other individuals working with ISHCN. The courses are tailored to the audience and often cover many topics, including the importance of oral health care for ISHCN, commonly seen conditions with orofacial implications, disability etiquette, hygiene adaptations for people with home care challenges, and other topics related to oral health for ISHCN. Presentations, exhibit booths, and educational materials are offered year-round. In addition, this program maintains a web-based listing of over 2,300 dental providers who report serving ISHCN of all ages and children under three years of age, representing approximately 41% of Virginia’s licensed dental providers residing in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Entries on this listing are self-reported by each dentist and do not include every dentist willing to provide dental care for ISHCN. However, it can be a useful tool for someone looking for a dentist for these populations.
Click here to find a dentist for individuals with special health care needs and very young children. Select ‘advanced search’ for a more specific search.
Training
Topic: Oral Health Care for Individuals with Special Health Care Needs (ISHCN)
Target Audience: Medical/Dental professionals, lay health workers, caseworkers, educators, direct support professionals, students training for the dental profession, other individuals working with ISHCN
How is the training provided? Virtual and In-person
Contact Information: Kami A. Piscitelli, ISHCN Oral Health Coordinator