Each quarterly newsletter, we like to include a success story highlighting one of our contracted network providers, and how they work closely with us to better serve UnitedHealthcare members. This quarter, we’re featuring the Pacific Dental Services Foundation, based in Irvine, Calif.
The Pacific Dental Services® (PDS) Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization whose mission is improving overall health by improving oral health through opportunities to serve locally, nationally, and internationally. It seeks to improve access to care through three main programs:
According to research, only about 10% of dental professionals are trained to work with individuals with special needs, leading to treatment wait times often ranging from 18-24 months (PLOS) (UW School of Dentistry).
To address this gap in care, the Pacific Dental Services (PDS) Foundation launched a Phoenix based dental practice in 2019 with a clear focus on serving patients with special needs, rigorously training their clinicians and dental students from Northern Arizona University, Carrington College, and NYU. Future partnerships with Midwestern University and UCLA are on the horizon. Since its launch, the practice has had over 5,000 patient care visits annually, serving patients ages 2 to 92 with a wide variety of conditions, including autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
PDS Foundation executive director Michael Le emphasizes that the goal of this practice goes beyond the required procedures themselves. He explains, “Our model is not only to give our patients a dental home for their needs but also grow their comfort level so they can be seen in a regular dental facility. Having students and seasoned providers visit and train only brings more access to care.”
The clinicians’ patience and expertise with this population help reduce fear of dentistry and increase the patients’ access to dental care beyond the PDS Foundation Dentists for Special Needs office. He advises practices and clinicians interested in making a difference: “Saying ‘yes, we can,’ with a humble and hungry mindset. Being curious and willing to train in this type of care is the first step in a better tomorrow.”
To learn more about the PDS Foundation Dentists for Special Needs office, visit: dentistsforspecialneeds.com. To learn more about the PDS Foundation, please visit: www.pdsfoundation.org.