Designing for Dignity and Access
This specialized learning dental care center provides inclusive treatment and education for patients with disabilities and complex health needs.
Care Center for Persons with Disabilities
Philadelphia, PA
Penn Dental Medicine is committed to advancing oral health education while expanding access to care for underserved populations. Recognizing a critical gap in dental services for individuals with severe physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities, the school established the Care Center for Persons with Disabilities to meet both community and academic needs.
Many patients—including low-income families, older adults, and individuals with complex medical conditions—struggle to receive routine dental care due to physical or behavioral limitations. To address this issue, Penn Dental envisioned a clinical and teaching environment designed to accommodate diverse patient needs while offering students hands-on experience with inclusive care.
The center supports this mission through a flexible, patient-focused design. Open operatory bays and private exam rooms offer varying degrees of privacy, light, sound, and mobility to match individual needs. Dental utilities are designed for adaptability, allowing clinicians to reconfigure their workspaces with ease. A large exam room with oversized doors and direct access from public corridors supports patients in stretchers or hospital beds, while a ribbed floor strip provides tactile wayfinding for the visually impaired.
The facility enables faculty and students to deliver compassionate, high-quality care while promoting equity in dental health—establishing a new standard for accessibility and inclusion in oral medicine.
