Alex, age 54, lives with Rasmussen’s syndrome with intractable seizures and numerous other afflictions. He is also unable to verbally communicate due to a traumatic brain injury. Since this made it impossible for Alex to be treated in a traditional dental office, he was referred to Exceptional Needs Dental Services (ENDS) to receive treatment from a mobile dentist.
Recently, Alex had been experiencing an extraordinary amount of tooth pain. The pain grew to be so unbearable that he was refusing to eat. The ENDS mobile dentist, Dr. Jennifer Navis with Geriatric Dental Group, was able to visit the group home where he resides to diagnose the problem. However, due to his developmental disability he is unable to consciously cooperate for treatment. To address his dental needs, ENDS coordinated hospital dental care for Alex.
Through Oregon Health Plan Medicaid, Alex is enrolled with ENDS’ dental care organization partners. The ENDS program is a partnership established by four Oregon dental care organizations:
Capitol Dental Care
CareOregon Dental
Managed Dental Care of Oregon
Willamette Dental
The ENDS program provides dental care access to individuals with exceptional needs, serving those who are functionally impaired, requiring assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADL), and are unable to obtain treatment in a traditional office setting.
Alex’s caregivers are happy to report that, since undergoing hospital dentistry, he is eating again. “His teeth look really good! The dentist got all the plaque off them.” The dental benefits made possible through Oregon Health Plan Medicaid, as well as providers like Dr. Navis, are essential for thousands of patients to receive quality oral health care. The ENDS program connects providers throughout Oregon to bring oral health care to those that need it most.
Exceptional Needs Dental Services 