Journal of Disability and Oral Health
- Cover Date:
- April 2001
- Print ISSN:
- 1470-8558
- Electronic ISSN:
- 1754-2758
- Vol:
- 2
- Issue:
- 1
Oral health care for individuals with tetraplegia due to spinal cord injury. A pilot study
Aim: To establish an overview of the oral health practices and expectations of tetraplegics in New Zealand, and whether a need for an information resource existed. Design: A telephone questionnaire. Subjects: Twenty tetraplegic individuals. Method: The individuals were asked about their injury, medical history, oral health attitudes and expectations, home care practices, professional oral care and problems with oral health or health care. The questionnaire was analysed using SPSS. Results: While most tetraplegics were happy with their oral health care, differences in the cleaning techniques and habits of caregivers existed. Problems such as decreased access to professional care and dry mouth as a side effect of medications commonly taken by tetraplegics also existed. Conclusions: In response to the findings, an information pamphlet was developed. Included in the pamphlet is information about oral health care specific to tetraplegics, and a list of contact details for dental practices and dental departments with wheelchair access.
Key words: Tetraplegia, spinal cord injury, oral health
- Article Price
- £15.00
- Institution Article Price
- £15.00
- Page Start
- 30
- Page End
- 36
- Authors
- Sarah Bronte
Articles from this issue
- Title
- Pg. Start
- Pg. End
- UNLOCKING BARRIERS TO CARE - Guidelines for the Oral Management of Oncology Patients Requiring Radiotherapy, Chemotherapy and Bone Marrow Transplantation
- 3
- 14
- Dentist-related barriers to treatment in a group of individuals with Down syndrome in France: implications for dental education
- 18
- 26
- Preventing self-inflicted soft tissue trauma: a case report in an adult with severe neurological impairment
- 27
- 29