What Are the Determinants of Dental Care Expenditures in Institutions for Adults With Disabilities? Findings From a National Survey.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the determinants of dental care expenditures in institutions for adults with disabilities. DESIGN: Health and disability survey and insurance database. SETTING: Institutional setting. PARTICIPANTS: Adults (N=2222) living in institutions for people with cognitive, sensory, and mobility disabilities. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We used a Heckman selection model to correct for potential sample selection bias due to the high percentage of non-dental care users. The Heckman selection model is a 2-step statistical approach based on the simultaneous estimation of 2 multiple regression models-a selection equation (step 1) and an outcome equation (step 2)-offering a means of correcting for nonrandomly selected samples. The selection equation modeled whether the individual had consulted a dentist at least once, whereas the outcome equation explained the dental care expenditures. Disability severity was assessed by scoring mobility and cognitive functional limitations. Regressions also included sociodemographic characteristics and other health-related variables. RESULTS: Individuals with the highest cognitive limitation scores, without family visits, without supplementary health insurance, and with poor oral health status were less likely to consult a dentist. After controlling for potential selection bias, the only variable that remained statistically significant in the outcome equation was the oral health status: when individuals with poor health status had consulted at least once, they had a higher level of dental care expenditure. CONCLUSIONS: Functional limitations were barriers to accessing dental care even in institutions for adult with disabilities. These barriers should be overcome because they may worsen their oral health status and well-being. Given the lack of literature on this specific topic, our results are important from a policy perspective. Health authorities should be alerted by these findings.

Ethics, Economics and Dentistry for Individuals with Disabilities in New York State.

The ADA Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct is an expression of the obligation occurring between the profession and society to meet the oral health needs of the public. At a time of economic concerns for the profession, suggestions are made to bring together the ethics of the profession and the need to expand services to underserved populations, including individuals with disabilities and the poor. The profession's effort to secure economic support for such an effort is possible with increased legislative awareness of the magnitude of the problem. To this end, the number of individuals with disabilities was developed for each Congressional district in New York State in an effort to challenge members of Congress to recognize the need in terms of their constituents, rather than in terms of the tens of millions with disabilities in the United States-which become "just numbers," not actual people.

Dental Economics and the Increasing Numbers of Individuals with Disabilities in New Jersey.

The dual needs of 1) providing increasing oral healthcare for individuals with special needs, and 2) improving the economics of dental practice, are explored in a review of the State of New Jersey and its counties.

Impact of income and financial subsidies on oral health care utilization among persons with disabilities in Singapore.

BACKGROUND/AIM(S): Globally, studies have shown that the dental disease burden among persons with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD) is high and can be attributed to lower utilization levels of dental services. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of income and financial subsidies on the utilization of dental care services among persons with IDD in Singapore. METHODS: Between August 2020 and August 2021, a cross-sectional study was conducted via centres offering Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children, special education schools and adult associations in Singapore serving persons with IDD. A sample of 591 caregivers of children and adults with IDD completed the survey. Data on sociodemographic information, oral health behaviours and dental utilization were collected. Financial subsidy status was assessed by the uptake of a government-funded, opt-in Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) for low-income families that provided a fixed subsidy amount for dental services in the primary care setting. Statistical analysis was carried out using univariable, multiple logistic regression and modified Poisson regression. Propensity score matching was carried out in R version 4.0.2 to assess the impact of financial subsidies on oral health care utilization among persons with IDD. RESULTS: Compared to those with lower gross monthly household incomes, the adjusted prevalence ratios of having at least one dental visit in the past year, having at least one preventive dental visit in the past year, and visiting the dentist at least once a year for persons with IDD with gross monthly household incomes of above SGD$4000 were 1.28 (95% CI 1.08-1.52), 1.48 (95% CI 1.14-1.92) and 1.36 (95% CI 1.09-1.70), respectively. Among those who were eligible for CHAS Blue subsidies (247 participants), 160 (62.0%) took up the CHAS Blue scheme and 96 (35.4%) visited the dentist at least yearly. There was no statistically significant difference in the utilization of dental services among individuals enrolled in the CHAS Blue subsidy scheme among those eligible for CHAS Blue subsidies. CONCLUSION: Higher household income was associated with a higher prevalence of dental visits in the past year, preventive dental visits in the past year, and at least yearly dental visits. CHAS Blue subsidies alone had limited impact on dental utilization among persons with IDD who were eligible for subsidies.

Should dentists be concerned about the weight of their patients?

This opinion paper considers obesity and its relationship to dental practice. Twenty-three per cent of people in England are estimated to be obese, a figure that is predicted to continue rising. It follows that obese patients are frequently encountered in general dental practice. The authors review the links between obesity and dental health, the possible barriers and challenges to providing dental care for obese people, and how these may be overcome. They also report the findings of a London survey investigating the current provision of specialist dental services for obese patients who cannot be treated in a standard dental chair. Services across London were highly variable and in some areas no provision was identified. The implications of the rising prevalence of obesity for service planners and practitioners are also discussed.

Survey of ambulatory surgery dentistry.

A telephone survey of New York State's most significant providers of Medicaid hospital ambulatory surgery dental treatment for special needs patients was conducted in June and July of 2011 to assess whether there had been changes in the availability of dental services following implementation of the Ambulatory Patient Groups (APG) Medicaid payment methodology and the April 2011 35% reduction in fee-for-service reimbursement to dentists who provide this dental care. With release of "Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General" in 2000, attention was focused on the link between oral health and general health, with the report highlighting the difficulties individuals with special needs experienced with respect to their oral health and accessing dental care. The New York State Department of Health in 2005 released its "Oral Health Plan for New York State." It had three stated objectives pertaining to those with special needs. None of these objectives has been met, and the response to this survey revealed waiting times for access to ambulatory surgery dental programs of up to two years and an overall probable 10% to 15% decrease in availability as a direct result of the APG payment methodology and reduction in fee-for-service reimbursements. New York is failing not only to meet the objectives of its own oral health plan, but also to adequately meet the dental health care needs of its most vulnerable citizens.

Would you believe that about 1-in-5 U.S. children has a disability?

A review of a series of federation reports documents the numbers of youngsters with a variety of special health care needs who are residents in our communities and are dependent upon local dentists for needed services. The increased costs for health care and complexities of access to this care are emphasized. While dental schools have introduced changes in their curricula to improve the preparation of new graduates to provide services for patients with special health care needs, the challenge is to provide current practitioners with programs to ensure the treatment of youngsters (and the not so young) with disabilities.

Preparing the profession to care for youngsters with special health care needs.

The complex issues involved in providing dental services to the increasing numbers of youngsters with special health care needs require the preparation of students and practitioners to meet these developments. A review of the changes in dental school requirements, the extent of needed services, the increased costs, and a challenge for current practitioners is presented.

Health needs and economics in Oklahoma.

A review of government and private agency reports document many of the health issues, including the low comparative oral health ranking as compared to the standing in other states, faced by the residents of Oklahoma. The complex issues of funding oral health services are considered in terms of the potential for increasing services to individuals with disabilities who are "aging out" of the Medicaid dental program.

Prosthodontic treatment of patients with disabilities at dental specialist clinics in the County of Västra Götaland.

In 1998 the Swedish Parliament decided about increased financing of dental support and service given to persons with disabilities who were dependent on nursing personnel or others in their activities of daily life including oral hygiene procedures. One part of the legislation called "Necessary dental care, group 3" (NDC3) includes persons with intellectual disabilities and disabilities due to brain damage, autism and autism-like disorders, and persons with lasting mental and physical disabilities not related to normal ageing. The objectives where to investigate persons affected by this legislation; how many and what patients covered by NDC3 in Västra Götaland County received prosthodontic therapy from 2001 through 2004, at hospital dental clinics or dental specialist clinics. Patients treated with prosthodontic restorations covered financially by the county council under the terms of NDC3 were identified through the county council's registers. The application forms for NDC3 were retrieved and information about patient characteristics and type of treatments were compiled. It was shown that 57 patients covered by NDC3 in Västra Götaland County received prosthodontic therapy at dental specialist clinics and 50 were treated at the hospital dental clinics for extensive prosthodontic treatment needs. The mean age for the patients rehabilitated with removable dentures was higher (56.2 years) compared with patients treated with single tooth implants (39.7 years). About 30 patients, representing 1 to 2% of the NDC3 population in Västra Götaland County were rehabilitated with more advanced prosthodontic restorations in hospital dental clinics or dental specialist clinics each year. In conclusion and with respect to the probably large need for prosthodontic therapy among persons with disabilities, the use of NDC3 has not been properly utilized.

Special Care Dentistry Association consensus statement on sedation, anesthesia, and alternative techniques for people with special needs.

Many people with special needs (PSN) have difficulty having good oral health or accessing oral health services because of a disability or medical condition. The number of people with these conditions living in community settings and needing oral health services is increasing dramatically due to advances in medical care, deinstitutionalization, and changing societal values. Many of these individuals require additional supports beyond local anesthesia in order to receive dental treatment services. The purpose of this consensus statement is to focus on the decision-making process for choosing a method of treatment or a combination of methods for facilitating dental treatment for these individuals. These guidelines are intended to assist oral health professionals and other interested parties in planning and carrying out oral health treatment for PSN. Considerations for planning treatment and considerations for each of several alternative modalities are listed. Also discussed are considerations for the use of combinations of modalities and considerations for the repeated or frequent use of these modalities. Finally, the need to advocate for adequate education and reimbursement for the full range of support alternatives is addressed. The Special Care Dentistry Association (SCDA) is dedicated to improving oral health and well being of PSN. The SCDA hopes that these guidelines can help oral health professionals and other interested individuals and groups to work together to ensure that PSN can achieve a "lifetime of oral health."

A review of guidelines for sedation, anesthesia,and alternative interventions for people with special needs.

There are significant numbers of people in our society with disabilities or other special needs. Their number and percentage are growing, in some cases, dramatically. Many of these individuals need special support in order to receive dental treatment. Modalities that can be used to provide dental treatment include pharmacological approaches to produce various levels of sedation or anesthesia. In addition to the use of medications, there are also techniques that employ behavioral or psychological interventions. In some circumstances, physical support or protective stabilization is used. There are also social supports and prevention strategies that can impact the individual's preparation for and need for dental treatment. This review of the numerous guidelines, which have been published for the use of sedation and anesthesia to facilitate the delivery of dental treatment, indicates that there are fewer guidelines for the inclusion of behavioral or psychological interventions or for the incorporation of social supports or prevention strategies. In addition, most published guidelines do not include considerations for people with special needs. There is a need for increased research and documentation of combined treatment modalities, and these combined approaches need to be incorporated into guidelines for patient care for people with special needs. There is also a need to advocate for reimbursement systems that support all appropriate treatment options so that practitioners can be free to recommend treatment options based on the efficacy and safety of each option.

Mega numbers, lobbying and providing care for individuals with autism.

Lobbying is a competitive effort directed to reaching legislators who are attempting to balance the demands of individuals, organized groups, political parties, and the complex economic realities of our times. Unfortunately, the use of all-inclusive "mega numbers" (whether it is the millions of individuals with disabilities or the billions of dollars for needed services) is difficult for any person to place in proper perspective. As a result, the estimated 1.5 million children and adults with autism spectrum disorders and their families in the United States become just "numbers" - not actual people. The need is to somehow personalize these numbers if we are to bring increased attention to these individuals with special needs. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and private research foundation data are used to illustrate an approach to better personalize the information for individual politicians and health practitioners.

Another perspective on individuals with disabilities: an editorial.

In 2005, there were nearly 40 million individuals (14.9% of the population), 5 years of age and older, with one or more disabilities (not including individuals living in institutions).(1) There is a great variation at the state level: the proportion of the population with disabilities ranges as high as 10.4% in Maine for youngsters between 5 and 20 years, to 52.1% for individuals 65 years and older in Mississippi. By contrast, the lowest proportion of youngsters 5 to 20 years of age with disabilities was in Connecticut (4.5%) and the lowest proportion for individuals 65 years or older with disabilities was in Nevada (33.3%). Political and social factors may be affecting the number of services available and many people with disabilities are not receiving these services. This editorial discusses some of the factors that may affect access to oral health services for people with disabilities.

The Disability Discrimination Act and Access: practical suggestions.

UNLABELLED: This paper presents the results of a study exploring the implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act Access Guidelines amongst General Dental Practitioners based in Aylesbury town centre. Fourteen potential barriers to compliance are identified around the key concerns of cost, planning regulations and lack of information. Practical suggestions are then offered in line with the 'Inclusive Approach' to enable practitioners to meet the requirements and overcome practical difficulties. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: From October 2004, all general dental practices have been required to take, or begin to plan, reasonable steps to improve access to their dental surgeries in order to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act.

Changes and factors associated with dentists' willingness to treat patients with severe disabilities.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated changes in dentists' willingness to treat severely disabled patients and to understand dentists' opinions on reimbursements after the implementation of a dental care financial reward program in Taiwan. METHODS: Three hundred dentists from 29 teaching hospitals were randomly selected to answer a structured questionnaire, and 184 structured questionnaires were returned. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine the factors associated with dentists' willingness to treat severely disabled patients. RESULTS: Approximately 60% of the dentists said reimbursements for treatment of severely disabled patients were reasonable. 50.4% of dentists were willing or very willing to treat disabled patients. Seventy-nine percent dentists affected by the program had a higher willingness but 83.7% dentists said this program did not make a significant difference to their income. 52.8% of dentists agreed the program would increase the quality of dental care. The factors significantly affecting dentists' willingness included dentist's age, specialty field, perception of the program in promoting the quality of dental services, and perception of the ability to provide adequate treatments for severely disabled patients. CONCLUSIONS: The rewards program significantly increased the willingness of most hospital-base dentists to treat the severely disabled patients although the effect of incentive to their income was limited.