S.C. Initiative addresses oral health disparity
The program recognizes what Salinas calls “a silent oral health disparity” among children and others with medical, mental and physical disabilities. It addresses that lack of attention to oral health with a unique comprehensive project that includes service, teaching, research and outreach activities, all of which are pertinent to a university environment. Salinas explained that often children who are medically compromised
or with physical disabilities are either unable to express their need,
or their disabilities are so profound as to cause caregivers to ignore
any other source as a reason for pain and discomfort.
“This issue has been clearly identified by the Surgeon’s General Report on Oral Health in America,” he said. The College of Dental Medicine program is entitled “Dental Program for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Children with Special Health Care Needs.” He has also received support from the South Carolina Developmental Disabilities Council, the Department of Health and Environmental Control and the S.C. Department of Disabilities and Special Needs. On Sept. 28, Salinas coordinated the Third Annual Continuing Education Course for dentists and their team on Diagnosis and Treatment Approaches for the Special Patient. “The response from dental professionals in the state was simply outstanding,” Salinas said. He reports more than 250 persons participated in a full day course. Also, with the assistance of the College of Dental Medicine, the participants earned 7.5 continuing education credit hours. The topics ranged from medical aspects of diseases to practical dental approaches that can be used in the daily dental practice. In addition, information about Salinas’ own research on asthma and caries and its clinical implications was provided in an effort to rapidly transfer available research information to the community. The feedback received from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, Salinas said. “Dental professionals in our state obviously desire even more information and practical training in order to better serve patients with special health care needs. “With the initial grant support of the Healthy South Carolina Initiative and later with the support of the S.C. Developmental Disabilities Council and the S.C. Department of Developmental Disabilities and Special Needs we have been able to develop active outreach activities such as this continuing education course.” The course is free of charge. “In three years we have reached about 700 dentists and staff members from all over the state. Considering the nature of the topic, we at the Department of Pediatric Dentistry and the College of Dental Medicine believe that we indeed are helping to decrease and eventually eliminate service barriers that may have impaired access to dental treatment for special patients.” The keynote speaker for the course on Diagnosis and Treatment Approaches for the Special Patient was Steven P. Perlman, DDS, MSc.D., associate clinical professor of the Goldman School of Dental Medicine at Boston University and global clinical director of Special Olympics, Special Smiles Oral Health Program. The faculty of the course included Michael Bowman, M.D., Ph.D., MUSC
professor of pediatrics and director of the MUSC Comprehensive Cystic Fibrosis
Center, Charles Brooks, DMD, director of dental services at Midlands Center,
SCDDSN; Cynthia Hardin, DDS, MUSC associate professor of pediatric dentistry
and orthodontics; Peter Hayes, DDS, MUSC associated professor, Department
of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics; Edward E. Hershaft, DDS, MUSC
professor, Department of Stomatology; Elizabeth Pilcher, DMD, MUSC associate
professor, Department of Prosthodontics; Michael Tabor, DDS, MUSC associate
professor Department of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery and Salinas.
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