New York dental schools receive funding to boost specialised oral care

Commenting on the significance of the funding for the university’s Oral Health Center for People with Disabilities, New York State Chief Disability Officer Kimberly Hill Ridley said: “This kind of dedicated ‘dental home’ is still far too rare, and it makes a real difference in people’s lives. I’m thrilled that Gov. Hochul’s investment in Regional Disability Health Clinics will help expand this important work.”

The University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine received US$3.7 million to establish a new special care clinic on campus. The funding will cover the full cost of constructing and equipping the clinic, which will feature eight operatories, a wheelchair tilt system, a wheelchair-accessible radiography unit, rooms designed to reduce sensory stress and extra-large restrooms that better meet patients’ needs.

Dr Elizabeth Kapral, a member of the teaching staff who will manage the new facility, commented in a university press release that the funding would help realise a long-term vision for the dental school. She said: “It will provide a welcoming space for adults and children who may have mobility issues, complex medical conditions and developmental disabilities, such as autism.”

The new clinic, which is set to open next year, will also play an important role in preparing dental students to treat patients with disabilities confidently before entering professional practice. “By improving the educational experiences of the next generation of dentists, future barriers for individuals with disabilities will be further reduced by increasing the number of competent dental providers,” Dr Kapral said.