Meharry Medical College’s School of Dentistry has opened a specialized clinic designed to improve access to dental care for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, a population that often faces significant barriers to receiving routine oral health care.
Meharry recently celebrated the grand opening of its Abilities Beyond Life’s Expectations, or A.B.L.E., Clinic with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on its Nashville campus.
Located on the first floor of the School of Dentistry, the A.B.L.E. Clinic is one of only a few clinics in Tennessee dedicated to providing comprehensive dental services specifically for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“For 150 years, Meharry has stepped forward to serve communities that have faced barriers accessing quality health care, and the A.B.L.E. Clinic continues that legacy,” said Dr. James E.K. Hildreth, president/CEO of Meharry Medical College.
Hildreth said the clinic has a dual mission: providing patients with specialized treatment while training future dentists to better serve people with disabilities.
“Our School of Dentistry is tackling this challenge on two vital fronts,” Hildreth said. “We are providing adults with disabilities the dignified, tailored treatment they deserve, while thoroughly equipping future dentists to serve this population.”
The need is significant. According to the National Institutes of Health’s Oral Health in America report, fewer than 10% of dentists report being willing and equipped to provide care to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Nearly one in four adults within that population does not receive routine dental care.
An estimated eight million Americans live with intellectual or developmental disabilities, including approximately 160,000 Tennesseans, according to figures cited by Meharry. Research cited by the college also indicates that more than 40% of people with intellectual disabilities have untreated tooth decay.
Led by Clinical Director Dr. Joyce Barbour, the A.B.L.E. Clinic provides routine cleanings, examinations and X-rays as well as more complex procedures including extractions, root canals, crowns and dentures.
The facility was designed to address some of the physical barriers that can make traditional dental offices difficult or impossible for some patients to use.
Expanded treatment bays can accommodate wheelchairs and gurneys while providing additional room for caregivers and family members. The clinic also combines dental treatment with behavioral support and individualized approaches based on each patient’s needs.
“For families that have spent years being turned away or told their loved one is ‘too difficult’ to treat, this clinic is a true sanctuary,” Barbour said. “Each individual who sits in our chair needs a provider who meets them with patience, flexibility and deep compassion.”
Meharry said the clinic accepts all insurance plans and works to provide treatment regardless of a patient’s ability to pay.
Accessibility is a significant issue nationally. According to research cited by Meharry, nearly one in five specialty dental practices is unable to treat wheelchair users because of inaccessible facilities or a lack of appropriate equipment.
The clinic is also intended to address another barrier: the shortage of dental professionals trained and comfortable treating patients with disabilities.
Meharry dental students, residents and dental assistants will receive hands-on experience working with A.B.L.E. Clinic patients. College leaders hope that experience will result in more dentists providing accessible care after they enter practice.
“Beyond patient care, there is also a powerful ripple effect on our students,” Barbour said. “Whether they are drawn to this work by a loved one with special needs or discover a new calling in our clinic, seeing future dentists get inspired to serve this population is deeply rewarding.”
The clinic received philanthropic support from Delta Dental of Tennessee’s Smile180 Foundation, which focuses on expanding access to dental care for underserved populations.
Dr. Phil Wenk, executive director of the Smile180 Foundation, said the clinic addresses an often-overlooked gap in health care while preparing future dentists to continue that work.
“By pairing dignified treatment for adults with disabilities with hands-on training for future dentists, Meharry is giving these patients and their families the healthy, confident smiles they deserve,” Wenk said.
Meharry officials hope the A.B.L.E. Clinic’s impact ultimately extends beyond the patients treated on campus. By exposing future dental professionals to specialized care during their training, the college aims to increase the number of providers prepared to serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout Tennessee and beyond.
