The 143 pediatric patients at the Loma Linda University Hospital Home Vent Clinic needed dental care. These patients suffer from chronic lung disease of prematurity, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary hypoplasia, neuromuscular disease, and many other debilitating conditions that would make dental care difficult.
So, clinic director Dr. Mariam Ischander asked Dr. Bonnie Nelson, chair of the department of pediatric dentistry, if she could help out. Nelson and her team did not shrink from the challenge.
“Most come with wheelchairs, ventilators, a parent, and a nurse, which can take up a significant amount of room, and some of the children are not able to be transferred into a dental chair,” she said. “Some also are at high risk of aspiration with liquids in their mouth, so this can be a complication if you’re not prepared.”
Despite these issues and others, Nelson and the 8 residents of the Advanced Specialty Program in Pediatric Dentistry joined nurses, program coordinators, respiratory therapists, and clinical instructors across 4 mornings in May and June to provide care to all 143 patients. Treatments included cleanings, scaling, restorations, and extractions.
“Each received an exam depending on the medical restriction and ability of the patient to semi-cooperate, and a toothbrush prophy was done. There were some primary teeth extracted, some permanent teeth extracted, and some patients were placed on a waiting list for treatment under general anesthesia in a hospital setting,” she said.
The program was a great benefit to the patients, who often wait for dental care because they aren’t seen in typical dental offices and need to go on waiting lists for dentists who will see them, usually in a hospital setting. Their parents were happy to participate, too.
“From what I have heard, they were very thankful, grateful, thrilled, and want to do it again,” Nelson said.
It benefitted the residents as well, who gained practical experience in treating special needs patients and felt good about their work. These residents included Minh-Ky Young, DDS; Adi Genish, DDS; Pooyan Nasibi, DDS; Ava Chung, DDS; Ryan Baker, DMD; Xuan Lam, DMD; Amanda Zenthoefer, DDS; and Adriana Cuellar, DDS.
“They were excited and felt they were doing a good thing,” Nelson said. “Also, I feel that more of them will be comfortable seeing these patients in a private practice after seeing them here in our clinic.”
