Designing and implementing a school-based dental program for students with developmental disabilities.

Students with developmental disabilities in Atlantic County Special Services School District (ACSSSD) receive on-site dental care through a program created by UMDNJ-New Jersey Dental School (NJDS). The program's goal was to coordinate dental school resources with those of a school district, county agencies and the Delta Dental Foundation to provide quality dental services to the students, aged 3-21 years. The University developed a Needs Assessment Survey and distributed 450 surveys to the students' parent/guardian(s). Completed surveys were returned by 131 respondents. Of the 131 children represented, 75 had not been seen by a dentist within the past year. In response to guardian reported access problems, UMDNJ-NJDS and ACSSSD developed a school-based dental care delivery system and a program for health promotion and disease.