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Biomedical subjects

H Barry Waldman

Publications and source records attributed to H Barry Waldman.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Dental needs assessment and access to care for adolescents.

For many, the adolescent years can be a difficult emotional period and a time when dental and medical needs may be neglected. Oral health needs are critical factors in the maturation of the adolescent,whether they involve the relief of pain, improved nutrition, an in-crease in self-esteem with orthodontic treatment, or "just" saving the dentition from the ravages of the early stages of periodontal disease. This article reviews demographic characteristics of adolescents in the United States with regard to oral health status, use of dental services, barriers to dental care, and children who have special health needs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Mandating education of dental graduates to provide care to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

In 2004, The Commission on Dental Accreditation adopted new standards for dental and dental hygiene education programs to ensure the preparation of practitioners to provide oral health services for persons with special health care needs. The course of action leading to the adoption of the new standards, together with the continuing obstacles of limited government support for dental services and the availability of faculty members to provide the needed dental educational experiences is reviewed. Expanding Health Resources and Services Administration definition of medically underserved areas is presented as one approach to improving the delivery of dental services.

Accreditation↗
PubMed2006

California community residential facilities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Evolving residential requirements for individuals with mild and moderate intellectual disabilities and related developmental disabilities increasingly place these people in community settings. The increasing numbers of these individuals are dependent upon local practitioners for needed health services. National and California data are reviewed in an effort to provide a general awareness of these community living arrangements, which in turn may assist in the delivery and the follow-up of oral health services.

California↗
PubMed2006

Dental establishment business activity in California counties at the start of the millennium.

The Bureau of the Census reports for 2002 were used to develop business data for "average" dental establishments in each of the counties in California. On average, between 1997 and 2002, when compared to national information, the number of California statewide dental establishments increased at a greater rate, had a smaller resident population per establishment, reported lower gross receipts, had fewer employees, and paid lower salaries to employees.

California↗
PubMed2006

Mega numbers and lobbying for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Lobbying is a competitive effort directed to reaching legislators who are attempting to balance the demands of individuals, organized groups, political parties and the complex economic realities of our times. Unfortunately, the use of all-inclusive "mega numbers" (whether it is the millions of individuals with intellectual disabilities or the billions of dollars for needed services) is difficult for any person to place in proper perspective. As a result, the millions of children and adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities become "just numbers" - not actual people. The need is to somehow personalize these numbers if we are to bring increased attention to these individuals with special needs. Census Bureau and private research foundation data are used to illustrate an approach to personalize the information for individual politicians.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

The economics of dental practice--present and future.

The combination of increased practitioner income, increases in the proportion of the population reporting visits for dental services, decreases in the number of dental school graduates, decreases in the dentist-to-population ratio, and increases in the number of female students and practitioners (many of whom report significantly fewer work hours than their male counterparts), portends favorable economics for dental practices. However, the cost of dental care is "felt" to a greater extent than for other health services. Current and future funding arrangements for dental services could be vulnerable to economic downturns, efforts to control business overhead costs and continued minimal government support. There may need to be concern regarding the infrastructure of economics of dental practice. A series of favorable developments, including increasing dental practitioner income, an increasing use of dental services, decreasing numbers of graduates and decreasing practitioner-to-population ratios would seem to favor continued encouraging prospects for the future of dental practices. However, compared to other health services, the reliance on (1) out-of-pocket funding for a major share of dental expenditures, and (2) limited government support for dental services raise questions regarding the infrastructure of dental economics. These subjects are reviewed in the following presentation.

Dentists↗
PubMed2005

Preparing dental graduates to provide care to individuals with special needs.

In 2004, the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) adopted a new standard that directs dental and dental hygiene programs to prepare dental professionals for the care of persons with special health care needs. This article reviews the demographics of individuals with special needs, documents that most dental schools provide their students with very limited educational opportunities related to the care of this population, describes the path that was followed to bring about change in the accrediting standard, and discusses the difficulties involved in developing the needed educational programs. Educational programs at two dental schools are presented as examples of how schools can provide students with learning experiences pertinent to the new CODA standard that states: "Graduates must be competent in assessing the treatment needs of patients with special needs."

Accreditation↗
PubMed2005

More than 56,000 children with disabilities in Tennessee.

Since 1990, Tennessee has been ranked among the states with a series of health and social difficulties. In addition, there are more than 56,000 children with disabilities in the state. In an effort to personalize these findings, the numbers of children with disabilities are presented by city, metropolitan area, county, and congressional districts. There are numerous difficulties associated with the delivery of dental care to these children with special needs. If all dentists were willing to help, however, each practitioner would need to care for twenty of these youngsters.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Dental students' experiences with and attitudes toward people with mental retardation.

BACKGROUND: People with mental retardation have limited access to oral health care. Dental school administrators reported minimal training in U.S. dental schools for these patients. As a result, students and practitioners may not be prepared to provide needed services. METHODS: The authors surveyed 295 third- and fourth-year students at five dental schools about their didactic and clinical preparation for, attitudes toward and comfort levels with treating people with mental retardation, as well as whether their experiences affect their willingness to treat people with mental retardation. The authors analyzed data using previously developed statistical software. RESULTS: A little more than 68 percent of respondents reported receiving five hours or less of instruction devoted to how to care for people with mental retardation, and 50.8 percent reported having no clinical training in this area. Nearly 60 percent reported that they had little to no confidence in providing care, while 74.6 percent reported they had little to no preparation in providing care. Students who had experience working with people with mental retardation attributed greater capabilities to such people than did students who had no such experience. CONCLUSIONS: Many U.S. dental students are prepared inadequately to provide services for people with mental retardation. Spending time with these patients provides a more positive understanding of the capabilities of these people. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Increasing numbers of people with mental retardation no longer live in institutions, and they are dependent on dentists in private practice for care. Increased dental school training and continuing education programs are needed to meet this need.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗