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.