Tag Archives: 2019

OHP Success Story – Autumn 2019

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Exceptional Needs Dental Services (ENDS) provides dental care access to individuals with exceptional needs, serving those who are functionally impaired, requiring assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADL), and are unable to obtain treatment in a traditional office setting. Dr. James P. Hayden, Jr., has been delivering mobile dental care through the ENDS program for over twenty-four years.

ENDS contracts with over twenty providers to deliver mobile dentistry services to Oregonians residing in long-term care facilities throughout western Oregon, including the Portland Metropolitan Area, the Mid-Valley, and Southern Oregon. Dr. Hayden sees all of ENDS’ special needs patients throughout the entire Mid-Valley, from Newberg to Eugene, along the coast, and everywhere in between.

Many of Dr. Hayden’s patients, their families, caregivers, and other support staff have spoken highly about the service he delivers. “I can’t imagine many people that would take on what he does.” One of the biggest things they appreciate is his promptness. “He is quick to respond with a friendly attitude to patients in pain and will phone in prescriptions on the weekend, if the need arises.”

Caregivers have also told us that after an unsuccessful visit in a traditional office, some patients feel discouraged. Fortunately, Dr. Hayden’s experience working with patients who have advanced dementia have taught him how to perform exams when even patients’ family members did not think it possible. “We don’t know what our residents would do without his services, because they can’t go out to see a dentist.” ENDS would like to take this time to honor and thank Dr. Hayden for his many years of hard work and dedication. 

The ENDS program is a partnership established by four Oregon dental care organizations:

Capitol Dental Care
CareOregon Dental
Managed Dental Care of Oregon
Willamette Dental

The ENDS Program connects providers, like Dr. Hayden, throughout Oregon to those that need it most through the dental care benefits made possible through Oregon Health Plan.

 

OHP Success Story – Summer 2019

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Danny, age 24, has severe autism and is happily living a quiet life in southern Oregon. On days when the weather is nice, Danny enjoys going for car rides with his Mom, taking walks, and swimming. He also enjoys listening to jazz and watching Baby Einstein videos. Danny is typically a relaxed person, although he has never been able to tolerate treatment in a dentist’s office.

Before Danny’s family moved from California to Oregon three years ago, Danny had always needed to be sent to the hospital for dental treatment under general anesthesia. That all changed when he was referred from Capitol Dental Care to Dr. Jim Hales, an Exceptional Needs Dental Services (ENDS) provider. Dr. Hales has been working with the special needs population through the ENDS program since 1995, and he has been working as a dentist for over 50 years. After being assigned to Dr. Hales, Danny allowed a dentist to look at his teeth without the need of sedation for the first time.

Dr. Hales believed that he could treat Danny even further, and decided that he could achieve this by having Danny come to the office frequently. He invited Danny back to the office often, even if it was just to sit and get comfortable with being in the dentist’s office. With every visit, Danny was smiling more and more and, as time went on, he allowed the doctor to perform more intensive treatment. Over a few appointments, Dr. Hales was able to completely clean all of Danny’s teeth and even got a full set of x-rays! Danny’s mom says that having Dr. Hales as her son’s dentist is a relief to her, and she is so happy that the doctor was able to create an environment that helped Danny to receive much-needed treatment without being sedated. Danny’s mother has continued to be “astounded” by Dr. Hales’ ability to treat her son.

Danny’s mother says that Dr. Hales is a dentist with a special touch, and she is so thankful that Danny is able to receive treatment through the ENDS program. All of this is a result of the continued support for the dental benefits provided to members of the Oregon Health Plan. Because of that ongoing support, our special needs communities can continue to grow and improve from the unique talents and expertise of providers like Dr. Hales.

OHP Success Story – Spring 2019

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Diana, age 27, was diagnosed with autism at the age of three. She has lived with her grandmother nearly her whole life. Growing up, Diana attended a Portland public school as a student in the special education program. After she completed her education she was connected to Trellis (trellis-or.com), a special education program that uses a team model in which families and professionals work together to develop social and independent life skills.

The Trellis program pairs Diana with a direct support provider for therapeutic integration into the community twice a week. They accompany her on numerous outings which include shopping malls, art classes, dance lessons, volunteer opportunities, and other group activities. Diana spends much of her free time on the computer, engaged with YouTube or watching her favorite cartoon characters. She loves to breathe new life into her cartoons by writing short stories about the characters.

Diana is able to visit a traditional dental office for exams and cleanings, but she is unable to tolerate more extensive dental treatments. It was for that reason that she was referred to Exceptional Needs Dental Services (ENDS) for hospital dentistry before being referred back to her primary care dentist.  

Diana’s grandmother said the ENDS staff were extremely caring and supportive towards Diana and she is grateful that ENDS was able to coordinate the necessary oral procedure for Diana. “The treatment was not as traumatic as she had feared and now Diana has taken a special interest in her dental hygiene.” The care and compassion delivered by ENDS’ providers, along with the dental benefits provided by the Oregon Health Plan, ensure patients receive the treatment they need to continue living a happy and healthy life.

OHP Success Story – Winter 2019

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Brandon, age 26, was diagnosed with Autism at the age of two. He lives with his family and does not communicate verbally. Brandon enjoys watching Disney musicals and has always been fascinated by different modes of transportation – boats, planes, and cars.

Brandon’s family spent much of past year looking into what medical and dental resources were available to him. Through Oregon Health Plan Medicaid, his dental insurance referred him to Exceptional Needs Dental Services (ENDS). The ENDS program is a partnership established by four Oregon dental care organizations:

– Capitol Dental Care
– CareOregon Dental
– Managed Dental Care of Oregon
– Willamette Dental

The ENDS program provides dental care access to individuals with exceptional needs, serving those who are functionally impaired, requiring assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADL), and are unable to obtain treatment in a traditional office setting.

Before treatment through ENDS, it had been over five years since Brandon had had a full dental exam performed. His Acute Situational Anxiety and Autism meant that he could not be successfully treated in a traditional dental office. However, his new ENDS provider was able to treat him at the hospital under general anesthesia. Brandon’s father Joe said of the experience, “From the time we got to the Hospital – to sign in our son in, to all the nurses, to the anesthesiologist, to the Dentist, and to check out – everything went well.”  Thanks to Brandon’s family’s diligence in brushing his teeth and maintaining his oral health, the treating provider reported that Brandon’s teeth were actually in pretty good shape.

Joe says that they feel lucky to have access to the dental resources that ENDS provides. Brandon’s father says he had contacted every dentist in his area from the Autistic Society website and none of them were able to meet Brandon’s needs. The ENDS Program connects providers throughout Oregon to those that need it most through the dental care benefits made possible through Oregon Health Plan.