Step-by-Step Dental Care for All, from Mild to Severe Disabilities
Comprehensive Oral Health Services for Six Major Disability Categories
Starting in September, individuals with severe disabilities will be able to receive dental care more conveniently at dental clinics near their residences. Previously, some patients with severe disabilities had to wait more than six months to receive treatment at hospitals equipped for general anesthesia.
On August 31, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it has newly designated 41 "Disability Companion Dental Clinics" to address the structural issue of patients with severe disabilities relying solely on specific hospitals for dental care.
This designation was finalized after the Seoul Dental Association conducted a survey among member clinics to assess their willingness to treat patients with severe disabilities, and the city government carried out on-site inspections.
Seoul plans to establish a "patient-tailored dental care system" that provides step-by-step services for patients ranging from those with mild or moderate disabilities to those with complex needs, offering optimal care based on the characteristics of each disability. Through this initiative, the city aims to create an environment where people with disabilities can receive safe, specialized dental care close to home without discrimination.
Until now, patients with severe disabilities have been concentrated at three facilities capable of providing general anesthesia: Seoul National University Dental Hospital (Central Disabled Oral Health Care Center), Seoul Disabled Dental Hospital, and Yonsei University Dental Hospital (Regional Disabled Oral Health Care Center). This has resulted in wait times of up to 28 weeks. According to 2022 health statistics, the oral health examination rate for people with severe disabilities was only 17.9%, and the rate of those needing dental treatment was 45.3%, which is 1.39 times higher than the general population. Despite high demand for treatment, limited access to care has created an invisible "dental blind spot" for this group.
To address this, Seoul has designated "Disability Companion Dental Clinics" so that individuals with severe disabilities can access dental care more easily near their homes. Of the approximately 386,000 registered people with disabilities in Seoul, about 120,000 (31.2%) are expected to benefit from this initiative.
"Disability Companion Dental Clinics" use behavioral management techniques such as physical restraint or sedation to provide oral examinations and primary care for patients with severe disabilities in the dental field, including those with brain lesions, epilepsy, mental disabilities, physical disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and autism spectrum disorders. Main services include oral examinations, fluoride application, scaling (tartar removal), and other preventive care, as well as basic treatments such as cavity treatment, tooth extraction, and periodontal therapy. The range of services may vary depending on each clinic's circumstances.
The 41 designated clinics are distributed across 17 districts, which is expected to significantly improve access to medical care for patients with severe disabilities. There are six clinics in Songpa District, three in Dongdaemun District, two in Gangseo District, and two in Mapo District, among others, greatly enhancing convenience for dental care. By age group, there are 11 clinics dedicated to children, five for adults, and 25 offering both. Detailed information can be found on the Seoul Metropolitan Government's website.
Seoul plans to conduct an additional needs assessment by the end of the year and expand the number of "Disability Companion Dental Clinics" to more than 50. Jung Sojin, head of Seoul's Health Management Division, stated, "Oral health for people with disabilities is a crucial issue directly linked to quality of life. Through the designation of Disability Companion Dental Clinics, Seoul will improve access to care and eliminate invisible gaps in medical services, so that all citizens can equally enjoy the right to health."
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