An undergraduate dental education program providing care for children with disabilities

Abstract

In 1981, the School of Dental Medicine at Stony Brook provided treatment for disabled children as part of the regular clinical rotation in the Department of Children's Dentistry. In 1988, 64% of the graduates of this program responded to a questionnaire survey (157 questionnaires sent, 97 returned). Forty-eight percent stated that they regularly treat this population in their current practices. Of those not regularly treating this population, 40% attributed this to specialty practice limitation. The majority of those responding (62%) reported that the experience this training provided was relevant to their current practice of dentistry.