Special Care Dentistry: For the Differently Abled

Special Care Dentistry is that specialty of dentistry concerned with the oral health care of patients with special needs for whatever reason including those who are physically or mentally challenged. People are considered to have special health care needs if they have physical, developmental, mental, sensory, behavioural, cognitive or emotional impairment or a condition that requires medical management, health care intervention or use of specialized services or programs. People with special needs are most under served in our society. They have poorer oral hygiene, more dental diseases, more missing teeth, and more difficulties in obtaining dental care than other segments of the population. Health care for individuals with special health care needs requires specialized knowledge, increased awareness and attention, adaptation, and accommodative measures beyond what are considered routine.