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A survey of the availability of dental services to developmentally disabled persons residing in the community
Author(s) -
Burtner A. Paul,
Jones Jack S.,
McNeal Donald R.,
Low Debra W.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
special care in dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.328
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1754-4505
pISSN - 0275-1879
DOI - 10.1111/j.1754-4505.1990.tb00793.x
Subject(s) - medicine , dental care , census , population , family medicine , medical care , gerontology , dental health , environmental health , nursing
Public Law 88–164, enacted in 1963, has led to extensive deinstitutionalization of persons with mental retardation from a peak census of 194,650 in 1967 to 91,440 by 1988. This population now depends on the community‐based health care system for medical and dental care. A survey conducted to determine the availability of dental care to the developmentally disabled residing in group homes located in north central Florida indicated that 40% of caretakers experienced difficulty in locating dentists willing to provide comprehensive dental services for residents. According to the caretakers, although 75% of the residents were cooperative dental patients, dentists were reluctant to provide services for a variety of reasons, including financial disincentives, inadequate knowledge and preparation, and a lack of proper equipment necessary to treat this group of special patients.