Henry Schein

As with many aspects of daily living, the standard dentist visit was not designed with much consideration for the needs of those with disabilities. For some, the experience may be physically inaccessible; for others, like those with developmental disabilities such as autism, the environment and experience—with its bright lights, buzzing noises, and close contact—can be terrifying and traumatic. Meanwhile, in part due to those challenges, people with disabilities suffer higher rates and more severe cases of periodontal disease, gum disease, and untreated cavities—all conditions that can lead to other health problems. Henry Schein, the dental and medical supply company, began work to address this disparity more than a decade ago, forging partnerships—like Project Accessible Oral Health—to increase training and adapt dental practices to better serve disabled people. The efforts have resulted in provision of specialized services to hundreds of thousands of children as well as a new dental school curriculum, developed with stakeholders like the American Dental Education Association.