Survey on Dental Care for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities - (2009)

Individuals with Mental Retardation, Downs Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Autism, and Traumatic Brain Injury

About this Survey: The New York State Task Force on Special Dentistry would greatly appreciate your assistance by completing the following short survey. You are aware of the shortage of Special Needs dentists in New York State and it is apparent that even fewer dentists are entering this field placing a greater responsibility on dentists in local communities to treat individuals with developmental disabilities. The results of this survey will help facilitate strategies to offset the consequences of these shortages.

Please note that in order to complete this survey, you must be a dentist currently practicing in New York State.


A red asterisk (*) indicates required questions.

  1. Your gender:*
    Male
    Female


  1. Your age:*


  1. Year graduated from dental school:*


  1. Which county in New York State do you practice?*


  1. Do you practice any of the following ADA recognized dental specialties? If so, please check all that apply.*
    General Dentistry
    Periodontics
    Endodontics
    Pediatric dentistry
    Oral Surgery
    Orthodontics
    Oral Pathology
    Prosthodontics


  1. Are any members of your immediate family considered developmentally disabled?*
    Yes
    No


  1. Are any members of your extended family considered developmentally disabled? *
    Yes
    No


  1. As you grew up, how would you rate your exposure to persons with developmental disabilities?*
    No exposure
    Limited Exposure
    Frequent Exposure
    Daily Exposure


  1. How often do you treat individuals with developmental disabilities?*
    Very Often
    Often
    Sometimes
    Rarely
    Never


  1. How comfortable are you treating special needs patients with mild developmental disabilities? Use the following Table as a reference to answer Questions 10, 11 and 12 on Developmental Disabilities.
    *
    Very Comfortable
    Comfortable
    Somewhat Comfortable
    Somewhat Uncomfortable
    Uncomfortable
    Very Uncomfortable


  1. How comfortable are you treating special needs patients with moderate developmental disabilities?
    *
    Very Comfortable
    Comfortable
    Somewhat Comfortable
    Somewhat Uncomfortable
    Uncomfortable
    Very Uncomfortable


  1. How comfortable are you treating special needs patients with severe developmental disabilities?
    *
    Very Comfortable
    Comfortable
    Somewhat Comfortable
    Somewhat Uncomfortable
    Uncomfortable
    Very Uncomfortable


  1. How much training have you had treating patients with developmental disabilities? Check all that apply.*
    None
    Limited training in dental school
    On the job training
    Self study
    Fellowship program in special needs
    Advanced continuing education courses
    Residency program
    Other


  1. Have you attended any CE courses relating to dental treatment of individuals with developmental disabilities over the past 10 years?*
    Yes
    No


  1. If free courses for CE credit were offered locally on treatment of persons with developmental disabilities, how likely would it be that you would attend?*
    Not likely
    Somewhat likely
    Likely
    Very likely


  1. If you treat individuals with developmental disabilities only sometimes, rarely or never, which of the following would make it more likely for you to increase the number of patients with developmental disabilities that you treat?
    Patient would have to be private pay and not Medicaid
    Would need Continuing Education in treatment of individuals with developmental disabilities
    Would need a mentor to answer questions that may arise concerning treatment
    Would want to observe treatment of individuals with developmental disabilities by a practitioner that treats this population on a regular basis
    None of the above would make it more likely that I would treat more patients with developmental disabilities


  1. Are you aware of your professional responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the New York State Humans Rights Law? *
    Yes
    No


  1. Do you accept Medicaid? *
    Yes
    No - please continue to question 21.


  1. If you accept Medicaid, are there certain procedure reimbursements that make it difficult to meet your overhead?
    Very often
    Often
    Sometimes
    Rarely
    Never


  1. If you practice in an Article 16 or Article 28 clinic, are there covered services that when performed do not meet your clinic's overhead?
    Very often
    Often
    Sometimes
    Rarely
    Never
    Not applicable, I do not practice in an Article 16 or 28 clinic


  1. If you do not participate in Medicaid, which of the following would make it more likely for you to participate? Check all that apply.
    Better reimbursement
    Use of the standard ADA form for filing claims
    More timely reimbursements
    Less rules and regulations concerning covered care
    Receiving a tax credit for all work done on Medicaid patients to insure I at least break even for treatment performed
    None of the above would make it more likely that I would participate in Medicaid


  1. Are you aware of the ADA Principle of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct Preamble that states, “Qualities of compassion, kindness, integrity, fairness and charity complement the ethical practice of dentistry and help to define the true professional.” *
    Yes
    No


  1. Are you aware that in the ADA Principle of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct under the Principle of Justice that dentists “should actively seek allies throughout society on specific activities that will help improve access to care for all?” *
    Yes
    No


  1. Are you aware that in the ADA Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct under the Principle of Beneficence “that professionals have a duty to act for the benefit of others. Under this Principle, the dentist’s primary obligation is service to the patient and the public at large.” *
    Yes
    No


  1. Do you provide voluntary dental Community Service? *
    Yes
    No


  1. To which Voluntary Programs or community activities have you participated? Check all that apply:
    Give Kids a Smile
    Special Olympics Special Smiles
    Children’s Dental Health Month/Poster Contest
    Donated Dental Services
    School Dental Health Certificates Free Assessments
    Missions of Mercy here and abroad
    Teach Dental Health and Oral Hygiene in local schools
    Teach Dental Health and Oral Hygiene in Head Start Programs
    Teach Dental Health and Oral Hygiene in Nursing Homes
    Teach Dental Health and Oral Hygiene in Group Homes
    Provide pro-bono dentistry for indigent community members
    Health Fair Screenings
    Other, please specify in the space provided in question 27.


  1. If you answered "other" in question 26, please specify which volunter programs you participate in that were not listed in question 27 as a choice.