A new multimillion-dollar dental clinic is now available for people with medically complex conditions who have faced barriers to dental care for years.
This first-of-its-kind dental clinic in the region,
Eastman Dental Specialty Care will serve adult patients with medically complex conditions and intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) at
Eastman Dental, part of the UR Medicine’s Eastman Institute for Oral Health. Children with medically complex conditions are seen by pediatric dentists at Eastman’s various locations and
SMILEmobiles.
For adults experiencing cancer, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, heart conditions, obesity, IDD, pregnancy, HIV and many other complex conditions, access to dental care can be very challenging because there are not enough qualified dentists who have the proper training or the facilities to
accommodate them. Eastman Dental unveiled its new seven-room Eastman Dental Specialty Care clinic that provides both.
Located at its main building at 625 Elmwood Avenue, highly trained dentists and dental specialists work closely with a patient’s physician to provide comprehensive care. The clinic features large treatment rooms and a new elevator to accommodate stretchers and wheelchairs. Also, a special lift for
patients who are wheelchair bound, a bariatric chair and other features help ease anxiety and provide a comforting experience.
With the addition of the new Eastman Dental Specialty Care clinic, a fully comprehensive range of dental treatment is now available for patients with varying complex conditions. Geriatric, pregnant and bariatric patients, in addition to those who have mild developmental disabilities or more complex
medical conditions, are seen in Specialty Care, and patients with child onset conditions, such as cystic fibrosis, severe developmental disabilities, spina bifida or patients on a ventilator, are seen at the Complex Care Center. Patients who are hospitalized, medically fragile or require treatment in the
operating room are seen at facilities in the hospital.
“This three-tier approach provides patients with a team of doctors to focus on the patient’s individual needs,” says Eli Eliav, D.M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Eastman Institute for Oral Health (Eastman Institute). “Dentists, dental specialists, and physicians, nurses and others work closely together to provide
the patient with optimal care and allows us to use resources and expertise throughout the university.”
The new clinic will help meet increasing demand by patients, many who travel from throughout New York and surrounding states to receive specialty care at the Eastman Institute.
The Specialty Care clinic also serves as a setting for educating the next generation of dentists and dental specialists.
“We’re addressing the significant shortage of qualified dentists to treat patients with medically complex conditions and intellectual and developmental disabilities through our advanced training programs,” explains Dr. Eliav. “Our graduates carry on the legacy of our founder George Eastman to treat the
underserved, with no compromise to quality of care.”
The Eastman Dental Specialty Care clinic marks the completion of a two-year, institute-wide renovation, including new sedation suites in the hospital clinic, updated existing treatment rooms, expanded faculty practice, a new library and study area, increased conference and seminar room spaces and
increased office space for faculty.
Wayne Lipschitz, D.D.S., M.S., Professor in Clinical Dentistry with more than 20 years of experience treating patients with IDD, is Director of the Eastman Dental Specialty Care clinic. Patients or referring providers can visit the
Specialty Care website or call the clinic at 585-341-6888.
Courtesy of Karen Black, Public Relations,
Eastman Institute for Oral Health
Published on Nov. 13, 2019