Prisma Health Dentistry is awarded grant from Delta Dental of South Carolina to assist in serving special needs patients

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Columbia, S.C.— The Prisma Health Dentistry Department, which includes a comprehensive dental practice as well as well as a residency program and outreach, has been awarded an approximately $95,800 grant from Delta Dental of South Carolina to expand services and accessibility for special needs patients at one of its Columbia offices.
Dr. Cindy Nichols, chair of the Dentistry Department, said, “We are incredibly thankful to Delta Dental of South Carolina for this grant opportunity to help us serve the high volume of special needs patients we treat annually. We treat special needs patients from the entire state through family self-referral and our extensive provider referral system.”

“We share mutual goals with Prisma Health – to improve oral health and provide access to vital dental care, especially for those who need it the most,” said Rob Goren, president and CEO of Delta Dental of South Carolina. “We’re so glad to know that our grant will help give essential treatment to children and adults with unique needs to improve their quality of life and overall health.”

The grant will significantly improve access for special needs or mobility-challenged patients through the purchase of three new procedure chairs with tilt and lift capabilities, a lift system for one of the procedure rooms, a mobile x-ray machine and intraoral sensors for digital imaging. “The grant will allow us to equip our Forest Drive office to serve special needs patients in a more accessible and comfortable atmosphere,” said Nichols. “Dental treatment can be stressful for anyone and both children and adults with limited mobility or other challenges are no different. Making their experience as comfortable as possible leads to better outcomes and encourages families to seek timely dental care for loved ones.”

Most dental practices are not equipped to accommodate patients with conditions affecting their control of movement or how they interact with the dentist, she said. “Special needs patients should have a yearly annual dental examination, and, when treatment is indicated, we want to be able to provide that treatment in the most accessible and comfortable way possible,” said Nichols, who emphasized that care is individualized to the unique needs of every patient.

Prisma Health Dentistry is accepting new patients and has two offices in Columbia, located at 10 Richland Medical Park Drive on the Richland Hospital campus and at 3304 Forest Drive. To make an appointment for either general or special needs dental care, call 803-434-6567. For more information, visit PrismaHealth.org/Dentistry10MP.

About Delta Dental of South Carolina
Delta Dental of South Carolina is a trade name of Delta Dental of Missouri, a dental benefits provider and a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization, which operates in South Carolina under that name. It provides more than 330,000 members in South Carolina with access to affordable, high-quality dental care through group plans tailored to meet the needs of organizations of all sizes, from large corporations to small businesses with two or more employees. Delta Dental also offers dental benefit plans directly to individuals and families. It also provides access to affordable, high-quality vision care through group vision benefit plans. The company proudly supports oral health initiatives, educational programs and charitable causes that help educate people about the importance of dental health and provide free dental care to those in need. It also created the South Carolina Dental Care Resource Guide to help individuals access information about low-cost and free dental care options in their area—available online at www.DeltaDentalSC.com/ResourceGuide1. To learn more about the company, visit www.DeltaDentalSC.com.

About Prisma Health
Prisma Health is a private nonprofit health company and the largest healthcare organization in South Carolina. The company has 29,750 team members, 18 acute and specialty hospitals, 2,827 beds, 300 outpatient sites, and more than 5,300 employed and independent clinicians across its clinically integrated inVio Health Network. Along with this innovative network, Prisma Health serves almost 1.5 million unique patients annually in its 21-county market area that covers 50% of South Carolina. Prisma Health’s goal is to improve the health of all South Carolinians by enhancing clinical quality, the patient experience and access to affordable care, as well as conducting clinical research and training the next generation of medical professionals. Learn more at PrismaHealth.org.