Special Care Dentistry

Special health care needs Individuals have poorer oral hygiene and periodontal status, more untreated caries and fewer remaining teeth. Their oral health condition may be influenced by age, severity of impairment and living conditions. They may have great limitations in oral hygiene performance due to their potential motor, sensory and intellectual disabilities, and so are prone to poor oral health. This group of individuals may also not understand and assume responsibility for or cooperate with preventive oral health practices. For the millions of people worldwide with special care needs, dental care is often not a top priority and takes a back seat to more pressing medical issues. Health care for them requires specialized knowledge, increased awareness and attention, adaptation, and accommodative measures beyond what are considered routine. Preventive protocols should be developed like oral health education, demonstration of oral hygiene techniques, and other preventive approaches to maintain a good oral which can benefit these people the most. Thus, this book emphasizes on the importance of oral health and focuses on the preventive dental care for the individuals with SHCN.