[Health Equity Week] Keynote and Panel Discussion: Increasing Access to Oral Health Care Services for Individuals with Disabilities, PD

John D. Kemp, President and CEO, Viscardi Center; Steven Perlman, DDS, MScD Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine ; Mark S. Wolff, DDS, Ph.D. Dean of Penn Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania

Description: The disabilities community is massive in number with a complex range of issues that interfere with their ability to access and receive routine dental care. Given the size and diversity of the population of individuals living with disabilities, adequate treatment cannot be delivered by the currently very limited number of dentists who are trained to provide the required care. All members of our society have the significant right to be treated by competent oral health practitioners. Our most vulnerable populations with physical and intellectual disabilities, and their caregivers, have an absolute need to exceptional care to maintain a quality of life. This lecture and panel discussion will discuss strategies and opportunities for increasing access to oral health services for individuals living with disabilities.