Baylor College of Medicine improved existing training for medical, dental, and behavioral health care professionals so they can provide more knowledgeable, compassionate, and patient-centered care for people with developmental disabilities (DD). The project developed an interdisciplinary preventive dental clinic and promoted a fellowship position for a primary-care doctor. 

Health care professionals learned how to use behavioral desensitization techniques and patient-centered approaches for people with DD who previously required sedation or restraint during dental and medical procedures. The project demonstrated that patients with DD can participate in their dental care if they are given the time and guidance they need to be successful.

Some of the project’s highlights included:

• Through partnerships with universities and dental schools in the Houston area, the project created a behavioral dental care curriculum to enhance training for dental professionals who work with patients with DD.
• Adapting to in-person class restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, the project developed virtual training sessions on dental desensitization and a virtual elective course for dental students on caring for patients with DD.
• By designing a protocol for remote support of adults with Down syndrome who use continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices, the project expanded its scope from dental care to care for patients with DD who have sleep apnea.  
    

The project was part of a TCDD-funded initiative to promote and maintain good health for people with DD, including older adults. The initiative supported projects that addressed chronic disease management and increased access to existing community programs and resources to improve health and decrease health disparities among people with DD in Texas.