Justin is a delightful young man of 22 who was born prematurely and also addicted to heroin at birth. These factors caused him lifelong developmental disabilities. Having mentally matured to the age of around 10 or 11, he loves all things with wheels, his dog, and spending time with friends. Justin is happy, social, and is known for dressing in his all-time favorite color, green. He is passionate about cars, and he can name any model that passes as he rides with his Aunt Julia. Though he is unable to drive a car, he takes pride in helping his family by driving the lawn mower to cut their grass. He also works a part time job at a local grocery store, where he delights in meeting customers and helping them with their carts.

At 3 years old, Justin suffered a significant trauma at a dentist’s office which caused a serious fear of dental work for years to come. Tasks that require fine motor skills are difficult for Justin, so despite attempts to brush and floss often, over the years he developed many cavities and eventually a painful abscessed tooth. The extremely lengthy hospital appointment to correct all the damage to his teeth motivated Justin to be willing to face his fears and try going to a dentist regularly again for cleanings. Not long after, Justin was referred to the ENDS program, which is a partnership established by four Oregon Dental Care Organizations:

• Capitol Dental Care
• CareOregon Dental
• Willamette Dental

Though seeing a dentist was still very challenging for Justin, having his aunt able to sit in on the appointment with him helped a lot. Dr. Jacob Foutz, ENDS Dentist worked with Justin and made visiting the dentist office a positive place to visit. When it became clear he would need his wisdom teeth removed, ENDS coordinated a hospital visit which included a deep cleaning as well. This visit was quick, painless and accommodating which was reassuring for both Justin and Julia. Thanks to the Medicaid dental benefits provided by Oregon Health Plan (OHP), the ENDS Program is able to connect patients in need with providers like Dr. Jacob Foutz and his staff. Justin now has healthy teeth and a lot more confidence now when visiting the dentist.

Tim, age 54, lives in a group home due to physical disabilities and intellectual impairment. He loves tuning his radio between stations, sitting on his deck during sunny days, and going for rides through the Gorge and to the coast in his van. He’s a fun-loving, mischievous person who enjoys the company of outgoing and friendly people.

Since Tim is non-verbal and has mobility challenges, he depends on the people who support him to communicate his wants and needs, including his dental care treatment. For any dental work beyond teeth brushing and routine examinations, Tim needs to be fully sedated.

Tim first started seeing Exceptional Needs Dental Services (ENDS) mobile and hospital dentist Dr. John Aspros about eighteen years ago while living in a group home in Oregon City. Since Tim has known Dr. Aspros for so long, he is very comfortable letting him look in his mouth for dental exams. When Tim moved from Oregon City across town in 2017, Dr. Aspros continued to come to his home to provide his dental care. Over the years, Dr. Aspros has repeatedly gone above and beyond to make sure that Tim is being cared for.

Without providers like Dr. Aspros, Tim would have a much harder time receiving dental care – if at all – and would possibly no longer be able to enjoy many of the foods he loves so much.

Because of the dental care benefits made possible by Oregon Health Plan (OHP), and the ENDS program, Tim is having his dental needs met and couldn’t be happier.

The ENDS program is a partnership established by these Oregon Dental Care Organizations:

• Capitol Dental Care
• CareOregon Dental

Phouvong, age 66, an incredible woman, that in 1979 came to America from Laos. She and her husband fled Laos during the Vietnam War and settled in the U.S. where they raised six children while speaking limited English. She worked two to three jobs consistently to provide for her large family. Phouvong has always been a social butterfly and loves everyone. All of her life she has been known for her love of cooking, especially in making the best traditional Laotian cuisine. When asked why she enjoyed cooking so much her response was, “When my family is fed, my heart is full.”

Over the past few years, Phouvong has suffered multiple strokes and three falls which resulted in a fractured shoulder and hips. She has also been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. This complicated matters when in 2019, Phouvong was diagnosed with serious decay and infection of all her remaining teeth. It was recommended due to her medical condition that treatment be completed under anesthesia. Thankfully, her family was made aware of Exceptional Needs Dental Services, a program that is a partnership established by four Oregon Dental Care Organizations:

• Capitol Dental Care
• CareOregon Dental
• Willamette Dental

Exceptional Needs Dental Services (ENDS) received a referral from the Dental Care Organization. An ENDS mobile dental provider, made a house call visit and referred Phouvong to be scheduled to have her dental treatment completed by Dr. Aspros in a hospital setting.

The results are best expressed by her loving family:

“On behalf of the family, we thank Debbie, Danielle, Dr. Aspros, others at ENDS, Providence St. Vincent, and Capitol Dental Care. We are blessed to have had the opportunity to engage with so many extraordinary people due to the dental care benefits made possible by Oregon Health Plan (OHP), and providers like Dr. Aspros. Phouvong has had all her dental needs met and is no longer in pain. We couldn’t be happier!”

Tami, age 65, suffers from Multiple Sclerosis, dementia, and is non-verbal. She and her husband were born and raised in Portland, Oregon. When Tami and her husband were first married, they became foster care parents and, over a period of 35 years, they fostered over 300 children and adopted ten of them!

A short while back, Tami began experiencing severe tooth pain and had not eaten solid food in over three weeks. Due to her medical conditions, she is unable to be seen in a traditional dental clinic but, fortunately, Tami was referred to Exceptional Needs Dental Services (ENDS) which specializes in mobile dentistry.

The ENDS program is a partnership established by four Oregon Dental Care Organizations:

• Capitol Dental Care
• CareOregon Dental
• Willamette Dental

After learning of the pain Tami had been enduring, Dr. Brian Koch, an ENDS mobile dentist, made an emergency house call at the end of his day. Dr. Koch determined that Tami’s condition meant that she could not tolerate an exam or dental treatment even at her residence. Because of this, treatment was coordinated with another ENDS provider so that Tami could be seen in the hospital under general anesthesia.

Following treating, Tami’s husband reported that she is pain free now and eating normally again. He happily told one of ENDS staff, “ She has color back in her face!” The ENDS Program connects Tami and other patients with providers like Dr. Koch thanks to the dental care benefits made possible by Oregon Health Plan (OHP). The care and compassion delivered by ENDS’ providers, along with the dental benefits provided by OHP, ensure patients receive the treatment they need to continue living a happy and healthy life.