Journal of Disability and Oral Health

cover art

Cover Date:
December 2006
Print ISSN:
1470-8558
Electronic ISSN:
1754-2758
Vol:
7
Issue:
3

Overview of a hospital based dental programme for persons with special needs

Background: A review was conducted of a dental programme for people with disabilities located in an acute care hospital, to assess if there was a need for such a programme, based on the demand and profile of the patients and to examine the mortality data for those registered patients that have died. Material and Methods: A retrospective review was undertaken of the database that included all patients registered with the dental programme for people with disabilities. Results: The review revealed that there were 2,701 registered patients and that this represented a doubling of the patient population since the last review in 1996. There was an increase in the number of patients with multiple co-morbidities and the utilisation of general anaesthesia to provide their required dental care rose from 48% to 56%. Finally, analysis of the 102 individuals who died revealed that the mean age of death was 39 years, which was considerably lower than that reported in the literature for people with disabilities or the general population. The most common cause of death was related to respiratory illness. Conclusions: These findings would support the conclusion that there is a significant need for a dental programme for persons with disabilities in the community, and that the programme must be able to provide care under general anaesthesia. The hospital programme will see individuals with multiple co-morbidities. Finally, it is possible that a link between oral health and related bacterial flora and respiratory disease and death may exist in this population which warrants future investigation. Key words: Special needs patients, hospital programme, morbidity

Article Price
£15.00
Institution Article Price
£15.00
Page Start
176
Page End
184
Authors
Michael J Sigal, Ali Sigal

Articles from this issue

  • Title
  • Pg. Start
  • Pg. End

  1. Editorial
  2. 142
  3. 142

  1. Defining the population requiring special care dentistry using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health – a personal view
  2. 143
  3. 152

  1. Salivary methotrexate following IV therapy for osteosarcoma: a pilot study
  2. 153
  3. 155

  1. Hypnosis – alternative, or complimentary to conscious sedation in dentistry? A review
  2. 156
  3. 162

  1. Guidelines for the delivery of a Domiciliary Oral Health Care Service.
  2. 166
  3. 172

  1. Oral disease experience of adults with severe disability, prior to receiving dental treatment under general anaesthesia
  2. 173
  3. 175

  1. Overview of a hospital based dental programme for persons with special needs
  2. 176
  3. 184

  1. Flow rate, pH and buffer capacity in saliva of adolescents with cerebral palsy
  2. 185
  3. 188

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