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Special care dentistry for general dental practice
1Glasgow Dental Hospital and School.
Dental Update
|August 27, 2013
Summary
Special care dentistry (SCD) manages patients with complex needs. This article introduces SCD for general dental practitioners, highlighting shared care for comprehensive patient management.
Area of Science:
- Dentistry
- Public Health
Background:
- Special care dentistry (SCD) principles developed since the 1980s.
- Shared care with general dental practitioners is crucial for comprehensive patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss patient groups commonly seen in SCD clinics.
- To provide insight into the complex medical and social aspects of care in SCD.
- To offer an introduction to SCD for general dental practitioners.
Main Methods:
- Review of patient groups and care aspects in special care dentistry.
- Discussion of medical and social complexities in patient management.
- Focus on principles and practice of SCD.
Main Results:
- SCD addresses varied complex medical and social aspects of patient care.
- Holistic, appropriate, and safe care is managed within SCD.
- Many patients managed by SCD could be treated in general dental practice.
Conclusions:
- Special care dentistry is a vital specialty for patients with complex needs.
- General dental practitioners play a key role in shared care.
- This article serves as an introductory guide for general dental practitioners to special care dentistry.
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