Innovation in Dental Care Access for People with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities
Presented by Dr. Nathan Suter, DDS, Chief Innovation Officer, Enable Dental
Learning Objectives:
1. Review of the benefits of oral health care for I/DD patients
2. Discuss barriers to obtaining oral health care, and strategies to remove said barriers
3. Explain the value of dental integration into care models for the aging I/DD population
4. What models do other states offer
5. How can we improve care for I/DD patients in Missouri
Dr. Nathan Suter, DDS, a dynamic leader in the field of dentistry, is renowned for his innovative approach to patient care and leadership in the field. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Webster University, and a Doctorate of Dental Surgery from the University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Dentistry.
Over the past five years, Dr. Suter has significantly impacted the dental field through various key roles. Since April 2022, he has been pivotal as the Chief Innovation Officer at Enable Dental Group, where he oversees the implementation of cutting-edge technologies in portable dentistry, serving geriatric and special needs populations across over 10 states. His innovative strategies include integrating digital workflows, transitioning to cloud-based clinical records, and establishing a comprehensive data warehouse and custom software.
Since January 2023, Dr. Suter serves as the Vice Chair of Delta Dental of Missouri. Additionally, since 2017, he has been the proud owner and practitioner at Green Leaf Dental Care. Here, he emphasizes direct patient care while also managing the practice. Dr. Suter's ownership extends to Enable Dental practices in multiple states, including Missouri, Washington, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Massachusetts, New York, and Oregon.
Before these recent endeavors, Dr. Suter's earlier career included roles such as Oral Health Director at COMTREA Comprehensive Health Center (June 2013 - July 2019) and Board Chair for the Missouri Coalition for Oral Health (June 2014 - March 2022). His initial years in the field were instrumental in laying the groundwork for his current successes.
Dr. Suter's dedication and expertise have been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the Top 10 Under Ten by the American Dental Association in 2020 and Missouri Dentist of the Year in 2019.
Through his leadership, clinical skills, and commitment to enhancing dental care, especially for underrepresented groups, Dr. Suter continues to make a significant impact in the dental world. His recent accomplishments especially highlight his role as a forward-thinking leader and innovator in dentistry.