GDA Action October 2021

28 • October 2021 T H I S S E R I E S OF AR T I C L E S AND L E C T UR E S I S PR E S EN T ED BY YOUR GDA FOUNDAT I ON FOR OR A L HE A LT H . Patients with Anxiety or Special Needs By Harvey Levy, DMD, MAGD, FACD, FICD Fourth in a series of four articles OFF-SITE AND OUT OF SIGHT  Summary Review and Preview In the previous article three, we discussed what to do after the mouth is open, including diagnostic tools and techniques, illumination, caries detectors, X-rays and imaging, intra-oral isolation devices, how to handle office initial failures, mobile equipment, and office medical kits. In this final article four, we will focus on safe dental treatment in more detail, and also in a hospital or surgical center operating room. We will also address dental care out of the office, including private homes, nursing homes, institutions, mobile dentistry in the field, mission trips to other states and countries, and other out- of-office settings you may be surprised to learn about. Access to Care is a personal mission and passion of mine. I will share my story with commentary in the very last paragraph. Most dentistry can be accomplished very well in a traditional office. A significantly great amount cannot. This writing and these images will explore non-conventional settings for our special groups of patients, be it their physical, behavioral, mental, financial or geographic status, and other life circumstances over which they have little to no control.  Dentistry in the Hospital Operating Room or Surgical Center Is there a need for dental care in the OR? With behavior management and/or good oral conscious sedation techniques, most dentists have an admirable success rate in getting their procedures completed in the office, ranging from orthodontics to oral surgery and everything in between. Being sedated to have dental care safely completed may be elective for many, but mandatory for others. Imagine all the people who would remain untreated if there was no means or mechanism for them to safely be put to sleep while their medically and dentally necessary treatment is performed (Photo 1)? If our mantra is “pain-free and infection-free,” then a way to manage that must be made available and accessible (Photo 2). What’s going on with hospitals? Years ago, a dentist merely needed to show his/ her dental and insurance credentials to 19a-Special needs child at Guatemala mission The views and opinions expressed are those of the author, and not of the GDA.