Special needs dentistry

Special needs dentistry, also known as special care dentistry, is a speciality of dentistry concerned with the oral health of people who have intellectual disability, or who are affected by other medical, physical, or psychiatric issues.[1]

Special needs dentists require an extra three years of postgraduate training after attaining their dental degree. They are then eligible for Board Certification by the American Board of Special Care Dentistry (Diplomate ABSCD) or Fellowship with the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons (FRACDS (SND)).

The oral health therapist have incorporated studies to allow for their scope of practice to cover working with people with special needs. They may accompany a dentist with clinic or domiciliary environments to aid in education, disease control and maintenance of patients with special needs.

Patients who require special needs dentistry form a diverse group, and may be found living at home, in hospital, in secure units, in residential or nursing homes, or they may be homeless or vulnerably housed. Their additional needs may be due directly to their impairment or disability, or to some aspect of their medical history that affects their oral health, or because their social, environmental or cultural context disables them with reference to their oral health.[2]

In Australia

The Australian Dental Council recognized the specialty of Special Needs Dentistry in November 2003.[3]

In the United Kingdom

Special Care Dentistry (SCD) is the thirteenth and most recent dental speciality to be approved by the United Kingdom General Dental Council (GDC). To date, there are 73 specialists on the GDC specialist list.[4] NHS consultant posts in Special Care Dentistry have been set up in some areas of the United Kingdom.

United Kingdom specialists in SCD, and dentists with a special interest in SCD, may work in NHS or private general practice, NHS community/salaried dental services or hospital dental services. People with impairments or disabilities who require Special Care Dentistry may seek a special care dentist by contacting their local healthcare provider (e.g. Primary Care Trust) or by obtaining a referral from, for example, their general medical or dental practitioner. Most SCD services have referral criteria which specify which groups of people they will accept for dental treatment.

Specialist training programmes are currently being introduced across the United Kingdom to provide training in SCD, leading to admission onto the GDC specialist list. Postgraduate qualifications in SCD are available from institutions such as the Royal College of Surgeons of England, the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and King’s College London Dental Institute.[5] There are also post-qualification courses available in SCD for Dental Care Professionals such as dental nurses, hygienists and therapists.

Oral Health Therapist Scope of Practice

An oral health therapist may aid in performing daily self-maintenance activities for patients who have substantial physical or cognitive limitations, which may hinder their success in major life activities.

References

  1. ↑ A case of need: proposal for a speciality in Special Care Dentistry Joint Advisory Committee for Special Care Dentistry (2003)
  2. ↑ Dougall A. and Fiske J. (2008) Access to special care dentistry, British Dental Journal 204 pp 605-616
  3. ↑ "Dentistry for Persons with Special Needs: How Should It Be Recognized?". Jdentaled.org. 2004-08-01. Retrieved 2015-07-21.
  4. ↑ General Dental Council, accessed 6 October 2009.
  5. ↑ Specialist Advisory Committee in Special Care Dentistry (2007) Training Programme in Special Care Dentistry PDF

External links

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