Real People, Real Stories: In Their Own Words

Real People, Real Stories:

In Their Own Words

The following are excerpts* from speeches that were presented to the Florida Board of Dentistry in Jacksonville on May 20 by people whose lives have been impacted by caring for people with special needs. Their remarks were honest and powerful. Learn more about the experiences of parents and providers of special dental care in their own words.

Dr. Kent Weitzel, DMD, MSEE

Dentist who treats special needs patients

KENT WEITZEL DMD, MSEE My name is Kent Weitzel, and I am a general dentist from Ocala, Fla. I advocate for the patients who do not have a voice. I am speaking of the patients with special health care needs and primarily those over the age of 21. The inequities are great in treating these precious people. I believe we can do better.

In 40 years practicing dentistry in Florida, I have always integrated special healthcare needs patients into my practice for basic dentistry, and then made an assessment to treat the patients for further needs or refer to other dentists. In the past several years, I have had limited places to refer my patients because of the closing of clinics. Currently, many patients are not being treated for dentistry, and these patients have been neglected. The results are disasters, and the direct cause is many years of untreated dental problems.

Together, we can solve this perplexing problem to provide dental care for these special patients and we will be better and compassionate people for doing this.

To view the speech in it’s entirety, please use the QR code.

Allison Seaman

Mother of autistic son and founder of New Horizon Academy for Exceptional Students, Inc.

ALIISON SEAMAN I want to thank you for this opportunity to share what I see as the most critical issue I have ever faced with my son, Matthew, regarding his healthcare. He was diagnosed with autism, sensory integration dysfunction, hyperacusis and autoimmune dysregulation by the age of eight years old.

Even though there are many tangible and intangible “carrots” which encourage positive choices for Matthew to complete a dental exam, cleaning and treatment, my son simply cannot make it through a full dental cleaning without incredible anxiety, jumping from the chair and perseverating the words, “sorry Mommy” over and over. I have given him mega doses of Benadryl, valium, and incentivize with all that is reinforcing to him; however, he simply cannot do it.

Proper dental care for Matthew requires sedation, but there is no dentist in the Medicaid dental network in a 50-mile radius that will consider treating my child. None. The inconvenient truth is our special needs children and adults do exist and deserve the same care afforded any other human being. It requires a more creative solution.

To view the speech in it’s entirety, please use the QR code.

Suzanne Weitzel, PT, MBA

Mother and licensed physical therapist

SUZANNE WEITZEL PT, MBA

I am an actively licensed physical therapist and mother. My eldest son, Erik, is a medical doctor and my youngest son, Joshua, was profoundly brain injured from a birth defect and underwent 14 neurosurgeries on his brain. Joshua died May 27, 2006, following a grand mal seizure at the age of 24. I am qualified to represent persons with special healthcare needs from a professional and personal background. We have citizens in our state with no access to dental care. They fall under the category of “persons with special healthcare needs.” This population encompasses different pathologies, such as dementia, neurological diseases, Down Syndrome, autism, mental retardation, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, severe dental phobia and many other disabilities. There are several problems: dental offices are refusing to see this population, even for an initial exam; Florida’s dental schools do not provide special needs education and clinical treatment; hospitals are dramatically reducing operating room times and privileges for care of these patients; and more. These are human beings that need dental treatment. They need safe and respectful care. We must protect and treat this population with dignity. To view the speech in it’s entirety, please use the QR code.

Rob McLean

Father of autistic daughter

ROB MCLEAN I’m an attorney, but today I’m here to speak to you as the parent of a child with developmental disabilities. My daughter, Maggie, is a 23-year-old with autism. Maggie has severe developmental delays and, as a result, is unable to sit still for dental procedures.

We have a wonderful local dentist; however, because he is unable to provide anesthesia in his office, he cannot perform extractions or similar procedures. In the past, our dentist has referred Maggie to a doctor who performed oral surgery on Maggie as an outpatient. Unfortunately, because there are so few oral surgeons who will see adult special needs patients, the doctor currently has a three-year waiting list. Special needs patients, such as my daughter, must get the care they need.

To view the speech in it’s entirety, please use the QR code.

*Statements have been edited for length and represent the views of the authors; they do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the FDA.