Followell To Lead Nisonger Center’s Dental Program At Ohio State

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Dr. Timothy Followell (43230) is the new program director for the dental program at The Ohio State University’s Nisonger Center. Followell will lead the Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) Dental Program that provides a complete range of oral health services to children and adults with developmental disabilities and other special needs.
“Tim will provide vision and leadership for the dental program, including the McCampbell Hall and Johnstown Road clinics, teaching and training of the Ohio State dental students, residents and fellows, and the dental hygiene students,” said Dr. Marc J. Tassé, a clinical psychologist and director of the Nisonger Center. “He will provide comprehensive oral healthcare services to children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities at the Nisonger Center dental clinic.”
Followell, who also is a clinical assistant professor of pediatric dentistry at Ohio State, completed his doctor of dental medicine at the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry and his fellowship and residency at The Ohio State University and Nationwide Children’s Hospital. He also completed some of his training through the Nisonger dental clinic. For the past several years, he has treated children and adults with special medical needs, development disabilities, and other special needs in his private pediatric dentist practice while also working as an attending pediatric dentist at Children’s Medical Center of Dayton and Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
Followell is a member of the American Dental Association, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, Ohio Dental Association, Dayton Dental Society, American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and Special Care Dentistry Association.
The Nisonger Center dental program is the largest provider of oral health services for adults with developmental disabilities in Franklin County. The dental program seeks to address the serious lack of oral health resources for adults with developmental disabilities. People with developmental disabilities generally have more dental disease and fewer resources to respond to these needs because there are very few providers and/or limitations in the services provided in the community, says Tassé.
The Nisonger Center, a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, is part of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and was founded in 1966 to provide assistance to people with disabilities, families, service providers and organizations by promoting inclusion of people with disabilities in education, health, employment and community settings.