HHS Allocates $51 Million to Enhance Dental Services for Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders

To support expanded dental-care access for children with neurodevelopmental disorders through funding to health centers.

Funding Allocation: 28 health centers received awards totaling $51 million to enhance dental services.
Quality Improvement Fund: Investment designated as QIF-DNDD to improve access to dental services for children with neurodevelopmental disorders.
Service Expansion: Health centers will expand and tailor preventive and other dental services and enhance their workforce.
Evidence-Based Models: Centers will build upon evidence-based models and evaluate innovative methods for dental care improvement.

Children with neurodevelopmental disorders face challenges in accessing dental care due to sensory sensitivities and other factors.
Routine dental visits are crucial as these children are at higher risk for oral health problems.
HRSA-supported health centers integrate oral health into primary care and provide services regardless of payment ability.

The effectiveness of the funded strategies will need to be evaluated over time.
The success of replication in other communities is contingent on the outcomes of the initial implementations.