Effective Dental Care for Patients With Special Needs

Special care dentistry is the branch of oral health care that treats people with special needs, including those with physical, medical, developmental, or cognitive conditions that limit their ability to receive routine dental care.

By The Editors On Aug 12, 2019 1

About how many million Americans are living with a disability according to the 2010 United States census?

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A. 56.7

B. 65.7

C. 76.5

D. 77.6

Correct! Wrong!

The Americans With Disabilities Act allows for discrimination against people with disabilities in regards to accessing dental care.

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True

False

Correct! Wrong!

Whether the first appointment is an emergency appointment or comprehensive examination, an accurate health history must be obtained before treatment.

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True

False

Correct! Wrong!

Treating patients with multiple health conditions often involves the need to collaborate with the patient’s medical team. Which of the following conditions should be discussed by the interdisciplinary team?

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A. Hemoglobin A1c levels

B. Timing of dental treatment during chemotherapy or radiation treatment

C. Whether epinephrine should be avoided due to cardiac history

D. All of the above

Correct! Wrong!

Behavioral management techniques used in pediatric dentistry can often be applied to people with special needs, particularly on patients with intellectual disabilities.

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True

False

Correct! Wrong!

Tell-show-do requires clinicians to explain the procedure using terminology the patient understands.

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True

False

Correct! Wrong!

Poor oral hygiene can rapidly lead to the failure of well-intentioned dental treatment, as well as compromise oral and systemic health. Which of the following may explain why a patient with special needs has poor oral hygiene?

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A. Diet high in sugar or acidic substances

B. Inability to brush or floss

C. Not knowing the importance of oral hygiene

D. All of the above

Correct! Wrong!

Effective Dental Care for Patients With Special Needs

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