**Photo: Joseph C. has had extensive dental work completed over the past several years and now has this stunning smile to show off! He is so proud to do so as well! He has built such a great relationship with Dr. Feigen and the rest of the staff — he now looks forward to coming to the dental clinic!
This year, the Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation awarded Norwalk Hospital in Norwalk, Connecticut a grant to support their dental program for persons with developmental disabilities. Norwalk is a first-time grant recipient.
Norwalk Hospital’s Dental Clinic is the only clinic of its kind in its community and has become the primary provider of dental services for those with developmental, mental or physical disabilities in Connecticut. Many patients are regularly referred to Norwalk’s Dental Clinic, for varying reasons, including lack of comfort in treating this segment of the population. Providing dental care to those with disabilities requires specialized training.
The hospital’s Dental Clinic utilizes special equipment that can accommodate patients who must remain in their beds, stretchers, cardiac chairs, and wheelchairs and the Clinic can also provide surgical dentistry, if necessary. Approximately 20 dentists from the community volunteer their time and services to support the Dental Clinic, and the Hospital provides services regardless of a person’s ability to pay.
The 2014 Delta Dental grant funds will support patient dental care services for developmentally disabled children and adults, as well as senior citizens. During National Developmental Disabilities Month, we thank Norwalk Hospital and its Dental Clinic staff for the valuable health care services it provides to those in the most need.