NYU College of Dentistry Opens Oral Health Center for Individuals with Disabilities

The NYU College of Dentistry opened a dedicated treatment center in New York City for individuals with physical, cognitive, and developmental disabilities this month. The center, located in the NYU College of Dentistry's Weissman Building at 1st Avenue and 24th Street, will provide comprehensive care for patients whose disabilities or medical conditions may have prevented them from receiving proper dental care in a conventional dental setting.

“The NYU Dentistry Oral Health Center for People with Disabilities addresses a major public health challenge by providing comprehensive, compassionate dental care for people with a full range of disabilities who experience significant barriers to accessing care,” said Charles N. Bertolami, DDS, DMedSc, the Herman Robert Fox Dean of the NYU College of Dentistry. “Equally important, care at the center is ongoing. By providing dental care across each patient’s lifespan, the center aims to break the vicious cycle of neglect and repeated hospitalization.”

The Oral Health Center was designed to meet the diverse needs of those with a variety of disabilities. It features nine spacious patient rooms and two fully equipped sedation suites. Soon, a multisensory room will be located off the waiting area. The multisensory room will offer patients a space to reduce anxiety and to engage their senses as needed. The room will be created in collaboration with the NYU Ability Project, a team of health specialistics, enginners, and artists that work at the intersection of disability and technology.