Programs that provide primary oral health care for patients of all ages. General dentists are responsible for the diagnosis, treatment, management and overall coordination of specialized services related to the patient's oral health needs. Services generally include an oral health history, preventive dental cleanings, dental radiographs, oral cancer screening, an examination of the teeth to detect tooth decay or other problems, a periodontal examination to detect gum disease, dental restorations (e.g., fillings, crowns and implants), cosmetic dentistry, and other procedures such as fluoride treatment.

Programs that specialize in providing care for the teeth and associated structures in the oral cavities of frail and/or medically compromised older adults who may have conditions such as Parkinson's disease, dementia, hypertension and diabetes.

Programs that provide dental services to patients in rural communities, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, group homes, housing projects, private residences or other similar settings using portable equipment or large, specially equipped motorized vans or mobile trailers (non-motorized). Mobile dental services bring dental hygiene, preventive care and limited treatment services to people in remote areas who do not have immediate access to a dentist or dental clinic or are unable to leave their homes to seek care at a fixed clinic facility.

Programs that specialize in providing oral health care for infants, children and adolescents.

Programs that specialize in providing oral health care for individuals with medical conditions or disabilities who may require more than routine dental care to achieve and maintain good oral health. People who require special care may have genetic or systemic disorders that affect their oral health; may be undergoing medical treatments that cause oral problems; or may have mental or physical disabilities that complicate oral hygiene or treatment. The dental team may need to transfer a patient with cerebral palsy from the wheelchair to the dental chair, use some sign language to communicate with deaf patients, adapt oral hygiene devices so a patient can use them, develop a treatment strategy for a patient who has received an organ transplant, determine the best anesthetic alternative for a patient who has heart disease, or develop an oral health plan for a patient who must undergo treatment for cancer. Special care dentistry encompasses preventive, diagnostic, and treatment services.

Individuals who are generally between the ages of 18 and 25 depending on the ages that specific programs use for qualification.

A severe, chronic disability that is attributable to a cognitive, neurological or physical impairment or a combination of cognitive, neurological and physical impairments; that is manifested during the developmental period (prior to age 22); that is likely to continue indefinitely; and that results in substantial functional limitations in three or more areas of major life activity including self-care, receptive and expressive language, learning, mobility, self-direction, capacity for independent living, and economic self-sufficiency.

Individuals who are unable to walk or have difficulty walking because of temporary or permanent illnesses or injuries and who utilize wheelchairs to enhance their mobility.