The Future of Dental Care for People with Disabilities

The NYU Oral Health Center for People with Disabilities aims to provide the first regional epicenter for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients across a wide spectrum of disabilities — from brain injuries to developmental disabilities like autism, intellectual disabilities, and motor disorders like cerebral palsy. In addition to expanding access for an extremely underserved population of patients, NYU is now at the forefront of training its graduates with the skills and confidence to care for special-needs patients. HDR designed this inclusive and state-of-the-art center to support the unique needs of this population.

Key features include:

• Nine spacious operatories for special needs patients
• Two fully-equipped sedation suites for advanced procedures under anesthesia
• Color-tuned dimmable lighting, low-arousal finishes, and advanced acoustic design to support patients' sensory experience
• Extra-wide corridors to accommodate wheelchairs
• A multi-sensory therapy room, developed in collaboration with the NYU School of Engineering, that provides an immersive environment to prepare patients