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Dental care for severely handicapped children
International Dental Journal
|September 1, 1981
Summary
Providing specialized dental care for individuals with severe physical and mental handicaps is crucial. A team approach in a rehabilitation institute significantly improves oral health and quality of life for the institutionalized handicapped.
Area of Science:
- Dentistry
- Public Health
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Dental care for physically and mentally handicapped individuals should be standard practice for pedodontists.
- Severe handicaps present challenges to maintaining acceptable dental care standards in general practice settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the dental care regimen at the Tokyo Metropolitan Rehabilitation Institute for the Severely Handicapped.
- To present data on dental disease incidence across different handicap categories.
- To illustrate improvements in quality of life due to consistent, high-quality dental care for institutionalized individuals.
Main Methods:
- A team-based approach to dental care has been implemented for 10 years.
- Data collection on dental disease incidence in various handicapped populations.
- Qualitative assessment of life quality improvements.
Main Results:
- The study details the successful implementation of a specialized dental care regimen.
- Data indicate varying dental disease rates among different categories of handicap.
- Regular, high-quality dental care demonstrably enhances the quality of life for institutionalized patients.
Conclusions:
- A dedicated, team-based approach is effective for providing comprehensive dental care to severely handicapped individuals.
- Improved dental health positively impacts the overall well-being and quality of life for institutionalized populations.
- Pedodontists play a vital role in ensuring equitable dental health outcomes for all patients, including those with severe disabilities.