The Oral Health Workforce Research Center (OHWRC) completed a study to evaluate the attitudes and willingness of general and specialty dentists to treat people with special needs and to identify the barriers to greater participation by dentists in the care of these patients. The research project was a collaboration with the Health Policy Institute at the American Dental Association (ADA).

This report examines the contributions of general and specialty dentists, especially pediatric dentists, to oral health care for people with special needs. Researchers focused on variations in the provision of oral health services by specialty, source of training, and geography.