DECOD (Dental Education in the Care of Persons with Disabilities) at the University of Washington School of Dentistry in Seattle was established in 1974 to increase access to care for people with disabilities.
What is our mission at DECOD?
- Clinical Services – DECOD provides dental care that is not otherwise available in the community for patients with developmental and acquired disabilities.
- Quality – DECOD is a teaching institution committed to improving quality of care for patients with disabilities
Who do we treat at DECOD?
DECOD serves people with developmental and acquired disabilities, as well as residents of specific care facilities. Adults with DDA Medicaid benefits are usually eligible for DECOD services. Other individuals may be eligible if they meet state requirements. The most commonly covered diagnoses are listed below:
Developmental Disability
- Autism
- Cerebral Palsy
- Down Syndrome
- Intellectual Disability
- Other developmental disabilities
Acquired Disability
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Muscular dystrophy
- Multiple sclerosis
- ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease)
- Stroke (Cerebral vascular accident)
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy
- Huntington’s Disease
- Parkinson’s Disease
If you have concerns about diagnosis qualification, please contact your DDA case manager or the DECOD patient care coordinator at 206-543-4619.
Who will be providing your care at DECOD?
Treatment may be provided by dental students, dental residents, and dental hygiene students in addition to our DECOD faculty, fellows, and staff.
How do I become a patient at DECOD?
*Please download and complete the DECOD Application Packet (PDF).
*If you have questions about your diagnosis or DECOD eligibility please contact us before completing.
Please return completed documents to:
Renee Takeuchi, Patient Care Coordinator
UW Oral Medicine – DECOD Program
Health Sciences Building
1959 NE Pacific Street Room B323
Box 356370 Seattle, WA 98195‐6370
All questions requiring the application can be directed to our patient care coordinator. Once you have been accepted as a patient in the DECOD program you will be contacted by our patient care coordinator to make an appointment.
If accepted as a patient, you will be given an initial appointment via Zoom Teledentistry for initial assessment. This will consist of two appointments: 1) new-patient intake* phone call, and 2) Zoom Teledentistry. This helps us plan for how we can best support your needs when you come to the clinic in person.
*A thorough review of your medical and dental history will be conducted during the new patient intake call. Please make sure to provide us a current medication list, list of diagnoses, and surgical history.
Please download UW DECOD Clinic Teledentistry Appointment Guide (PDF) for details of these two appointments.
An in-person clinic appointment will be scheduled after completion of these two appointments. An exam and/or x -rays MAY be attempted during this visit.
All cleanings and other dental treatment will be provided at later appointments.
Location
The DECOD Clinic is located in Room B-323 of the UW Health Sciences Building on NE Pacific Street between 15th Avenue NE and the Montlake Bridge. To find the DECOD clinic, visit our map and directions page.
Parking – Special parking places for disabled persons are available in the S-1 parking area directly south of the B and D wings of the Health Sciences Building in the School of Dentistry. The usual parking fee is charged. The first floor entrance to the D wing has curb cuts and ramps for wheelchairs. Parking at University of Washington Medical Center (Triangle and Surgery Pavilion) are available at the patient’s expense. There are NO discounts or validation stickers for these areas to park.
Buses – For information call Metro at 206-553-3000 or 206-684-1739 TTY.
Several services offer transportation for elderly and disabled persons.
Questions? Please call the DECOD Clinic at 206-543-4619 or the School of Dentistry Billing Office at 206-543-5297.