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Directory available for patients with special needs  A new dental directory for patients with special health care needs has been published by Carlos F. Salinas, DDS, professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics.    This unique directory is one of the outcomes of the MUSC Dental Program for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Special Patients and represents the first directory of this nature available in South Carolina.   The directory is a tool to be used by health professionals in the field and its main objective is to facilitate access and referral of patients to those dentists interested and willing to provide dental treatment for patients with special health care needs.    In the directory information can be found regarding a dentist in a particular city that treats special patients, languages spoken in the dental office, the specialty of a given doctor, what types of disabilities/disorders are treated by the dentist, whether the doctor can see the patient at special hours, what types of insurances are accepted, and if the doctor can treat children at a hospital facility.    “We believe that by having a well organized directory, we are indeed helping to eliminate the barriers to dental access, and in so doing, we are helping to decrease the oral health disparities which are presently observed in this special patient population,” said Salinas.   The participation of 400 dentists in this directory speaks very well of the South Carolina dental professionals.  Salinas is receiving more inquiries from dentists that would like to be enrolled in the directory. For information on being listed call Salinas’ office at (843) 792-9613 or email salinasc@musc.edu    Salinas’ program at MUSC has been mainly funded by the SCDHHS—Healthy South Carolina Initiative and the South Carolina Developmental Disabilities Council.    He also acknowledges the collaboration of Dr Raymond Lala, SCDHEC Dental Office director, and the SC Dentistry Licensing Board. With their help and support, last year a questionnaire was sent to all dentists renewing their South Carolina License. This data was collected and organized into this directory.   Salinas is currently in the process of creating a web page with linkages to all the agencies that are providing services for these special patients. “We hope to maintain an active data base and update this directory regularly. In order to do this, we need some extramural support, and we are planning to obtain this support. I feel that the more fragile members of our society need such an investment, which creates a network of dentists around our state,” said Salinas.