Using the web to increase access to oral health care for patients with special health care needs in South Carolina: A replicable model.

Aim: To create an accessible web-based resource of providers willing to provide dental services for patients with special health care needs (SCHNs).

Methods: With a grant from The Duke Endowment, surveys were sent to dentists in South Carolina RESULTS: Data showed that the majority of providers expressed willingness to treat patients with one or more mild SHCN, but fewer expressed willingness to treat those with one or more moderate or severe SHCN. Additionally, the data showed that among general practitioners specifically, only one-third were willing to treat mild and moderate/severe manifestations of all categories listed. The number of practitioners willing to treat moderate to severe manifestations of SHCN and accept Medicaid and willing to take new Medicaid patients dropped even further. These results demonstrated a need to increase the number of providers in South Carolina who are willing to treat patients with SHCN, and a need to provide an accessible resource for patients with SHCN to be able to find these providers. Data collected populated the web-based resource for the Special Adult Network of Dentists url:www.sandsc.org CONCLUSION: This resource may be used by patients, caregivers, and health care providers and could be replicated in other states or designed as a national resource.