On Friday at home plate on the field of McCoy Stadium, the Samuels Sinclair Dental Center of Rhode Island Hospital was recognized with the Maxwell J. Schleifer Distinguished Service Award from Exceptional Parent magazine.
The award, presented as part of Disability Awareness Night, recognized the dental center’s work caring for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities – patients who may need extra help with their oral care that community dentists can’t always offer.
Founded in 1931, the Samuels Sinclair Dental Center is the state’s largest and oldest dental care practice for children and adults with special needs and one of the first clinics of its kind to provide comprehensive dental care within a general hospital. Dr. Shirley Spater Freedman, director of the center, spoke with Providence Business News about the center and the award.
PBN: What is the mission of the center?
FREEDMAN: The clinical mission of the center has remained true to its original purpose: to provide care for children and adults with special needs and for children with little or no dental coverage. We are able to achieve our academic mission through the accredited Joseph S. Sinclair General Practice Residency program in dentistry, with two residents graduating each year. This advanced training in all areas of dentistry will enhance their skills and comfort level to provide the best dental care possible for patients with disabilities. I’m very proud to announce the Joseph S. Sinclair General Practice Residency program just received the accreditation status of “approval without reporting requirements” by the Commission on Dental Accreditation through 2014. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
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PBN: How many patients do you care for each year, and is there a waiting list?
FREEDMAN: Over 10,000 patients were treated last year, and we are really pleased to say that we no longer have a waiting list. We accept all forms of insurance, including medical assistance. If you are looking for a dental home for your child or know of someone with developmental disabilities in search of a dentist, please call 444-5284 for an appointment.
PBN: What kinds of challenges are there in providing oral care for people with developmental disabilities?
FREEDMAN: There is an oral systemic connection. For example, many of our patients are on medications to control seizures, and this affects their gums and can contribute to periodontal disease. Also, patients with certain disabilities have malocclusion, so their teeth may not be self-cleansing, and if there is a lack of tooth-brushing compliance, they are more prone to tooth decay. These are just some reasons why the special-needs population may have chronic dental issues. Many of our patients are non-verbal and have had negative dental experiences in the past and we do our best to make them the most comfortable they can be while restoring their teeth. This is often a challenge with patients with movement disorders and tactile defensives. I think a center of this kind is critical to address the unique dental needs of this population.
We work closely with the parents to determine creative ways to improve the oral health of each individual patient.
PBN: How are you funded?
FREEDMAN: We are primarily funded by fee-for-service Medicaid, and with the ever increasing costs of operating a dental clinic and low reimbursement rates, we are challenged to meet our expenses. Recently, we have been fortunate to receive private donations to support the residency program and upgrade equipment and we are so grateful to those organizations and individuals who have supported us.
PBN: Tell us about the award.
FREEDMAN: We’re receiving the Maxwell J. Schleifer Distinguished Service Award from Exceptional Parent magazine to honor our staff for their advocacy on behalf of people living with disabilities and special needs. It’s being presented to us by representatives from EP Global Communications, the publisher of Exceptional Parent magazine, representatives from MassMutual Financial Group, the national sponsor of the Disability Awareness Night program, and the Pawtucket Red Sox mascot, Paws. Disability Awareness Night began in 2002 when Exceptional Parent magazine combined forces with the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees to create the first event of its kind. The goal of this community outreach program is to raise the public’s awareness about the special needs community. The event now encompasses both major and minor league baseball venues, as well as the NBA and NASCAR. We are so proud to receive this recognition – our staff is so dedicated to our patients, and they are passionate about what they do.
