Handicap accessible dentist3/18/2024 10 Without access to professional dental care, patients with special needs are at risk of oral disease and a reduced quality of life. This has increased the likelihood that health care providers, including oral health professionals, will treat these patients in traditional medical/dental settings. While people with disabilities were often institutionalized in the past, today most reside in communities. Many individuals with disabilities are living longer due to advances in medical treatment. 8,10,11,13 BARRIERS TO CARE FACED BY SPECIAL NEEDS POPULATIONS The presence of developmental conditions, such as Down syndrome, epilepsy, cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy, as well as cognitive challenges (e.g., autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or dementia), may also require adjustments to treatment planning. Individuals with medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, respiratory disease, stroke, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and other illnesses, may also need specialized support to ensure the dental visit is successful. Patients with broken or amputated limbs, one or more sensory impairments, or who use wheelchairs may require modifications of the oral health care treatment plan. 9,12 Dental health professionals need to be prepared to accommodate patients with special needs, regardless of the type of disability. 8–12 Individuals may present with more than one disability that requires medical management or the use of specialized equipment, services or programs. Patients with special needs include individuals who are disabled due to physical limitations (congenital, traumatic and/or physiological), medical complications (systemic, acquired and/or hereditary), developmental problems (congenital and/or acquired), and cognitive impairments (mental, sensory, emotional and/or behavioral). Providing dental care to patients with disabilities may require modifications to the traditional treatment plan. 1,7–12 In 2013, more than half of Americans with disabilities were age 18 to 64 40% were age 65 and older 7.4% were children age 5 to 17 and 0.4% were younger than 5. 1–6 The Americans with Disabilities Act defines disability as a “physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities,” which may include hearing, vision, communication, mobility, or other activities of daily living. Census Bureau, in 2010, 56.7 million Americans had a diagnosed disability, which comprises 19% of the noninstitutionalized population.
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