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Cerebral Palsy - Back to News Menu
Dental clinic for people with disabilities to open in Elmira
John P. Cleary
Dentist Alicia Bauman in the Cerebral Palsy and Handicapped Children's Association of Chemung County's new dental clinic.
To learn more
What: The Cerebral Palsy and Handicapped Children's Association dental clinic.
Opens: Monday.
Where: The clinic is in a classroom in the Ann B. LeMark Building at 1118 Charles St. in Elmira. Appointments: 607/734-7107.
January 4, 2006 - Jerry Kohena said it is sometimes difficult to find a dentist able to see patients with developmental disabilities.
"Our dentists have been very good to provide their services, and (Chemung County) provides a dental clinic, but for people who have developmental difficulties, it takes people with special training to deal with them," said Kohena, former director of children's services at Cerebral Palsy and Handicapped Children's Association of Chemung County.
Kohena, a retired principal from Elmira Heights who has two daughters with cerebral palsy, said it also can be difficult to find dentists who will accept the Medicaid insurance many people with disabilities have.
His agency wasn't the only one facing the problem.
"We did a little research and found that other agencies like ourselves are having difficulty getting dental care for their consumers," he said. "They sometimes have to take them as far away as Rochester and Geneseo."
So to make it easier, the Cerebral Palsy and Handicapped Children's Association is opening its own dental clinic. Dentist Alicia Bauman and a staff of hygienists and dental assistants trained to work with patients with disabilities will begin seeing patients Monday at the clinic at the association's Elmira headquarters.
A classroom in the Ann B. LeMark Building was converted into a dental office with three exam rooms. They are outfitted with chairs and other equipment designed to accommodate patients with disabilities. Gentle restraints are available for patients who need them to control spastic movements.
But Bauman, who has 14 years of experience working with children and people with disabilities, said the clinic has one key advantage over for-profit dental offices: time.
"If it takes five sessions to complete a cleaning, then it takes five sessions," she said. "You couldn't do that at a regular office. It would be too expensive."
Organizing the clinic has cost about $130,000, Kohena said, with about $80,000 of that raised through grants.
After months of preparation, Bauman is eager to get her hands on some patients.
"I'm itching for it," she said.
Kohena said the clinic will be used by the association's clients, program participants from other agencies such as Chemung ARC and Pathways, and by others with disabilities. He and Bauman estimate 700 to 900 patients in five counties will make use of the clinic, and that's just to start.
The association also operates audiology, orthopedic and podiatry clinics. It provides residence homes, educational programs, transportation, family support and day programs for adults and children with a wide range of disabilities.
The clinic will accept Medicaid and other insurance plans. The LeMark Building is at 1118 Charles St. in Elmira. Appointments may be scheduled by calling 607/734-7107.
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