The treatment of medically handicapped children

There are a number of chronic medical conditions in which dental care for the child is of vital importance as their general health may be put at serious risk if they develop dental disease or require dental treatment. The more common medical conditions which cause these problems are summarized and the associated risks discussed. The need for the dentist providing care to have sufficient knowledge of the medical conditions and forms of treatment which put the child at risk is stressed. Some of the other problems which occur during dental care of chronically sick children are considered, and these include paediatric medication and certain types of diet therapy which have an adverse effect on dental health, provision of dental treatment and the emotional and social problems which occur in families in which there is a seriously ill child. Finally, the aims of dental care for this group of patients is discussed.