Promoting inclusive care

Verein für Behindertenorientierte Zahnmedizin e. V. (Association for Dentistry for People with Disabilities)

In order to support the work of the endowed chair, Witten/Herdecke University has established a non-profit association. The association supports the Chair of Special Care Dentistry so that its staff can continue to teach and conduct research in the field of disability-oriented dentistry, raise awareness of this field amongst trainee dentists, and bring about lasting improvements in the oral health of people with disabilities.

Articles of Association

The association’s patrons are the well-known Witten-based film and theatre actress Tanja Wedhorn and the former national football player Emre Can.

Tanja Wedhorn, theatre actress:
“As a mother, I know how important healthy teeth are for children. But when dental health and visits to the dentist are made more difficult because a child has a physical or mental disability, what can you do? Healthy teeth should not be a privilege reserved for people without disabilities. With the services it offers, the ‘Disability-Oriented Dentistry’ project provides families with a great deal of freedom – and one less worry in their daily lives. As a native of Witten and a mother, I am therefore very happy to support the project.”

Emre Can, former player for the German national football team:
“As a teenager, I had to become independent quickly in football. But I wouldn’t have managed it without the help of others, so I know from my own experience how important it is to receive support. The support provided by the ‘Dentistry for People with Disabilities’ project is truly unique: it gives people with intellectual disabilities access to good dental health that would otherwise be denied to them. This makes life easier for many patients and their families, and also restores a degree of independence.”