This week the Southern Illinois University (SIU) School of Dental Medicine in Edwardsville, IL, announced it has increased dental services offered to children with special needs.
The SIU dental school's students and staff, through a partnership with the Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation (SIHF) and Touchette Regional Hospital, will have access to the hospital in Centreville to provide dental services to children with special needs who require sedation.
The dental school will also begin offering a broader range of dental treatment for special needs children at its patient clinics. The school has also hired Andrea Bell, DMD, as a dental anesthesiologist to develop the program.
As this partnership develops, SIU students and SIHF staff will coordinate to develop an educational program, which will be delivered to the parents of special needs children. The program will describe the importance of regular toothbrushing and positive oral habits for kids.
The SIU School of Dental Medicine students manage approximately 35,000 patient visits each year at its patient clinics in Alton and East St. Louis. In addition, students offer oral health treatment, screenings, and education to more than 10,000 people annually through a variety of off-campus community outreach events.
