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Tips for People Who Have Special Needs

Overview

People of all ages may have special conditions such as stroke, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, mental retardation, Down syndrome, genetic disorders, Alzheimer’s disease or arthritis. Each of these people has the same basic dental needs we all do: daily brushing and flossing, regular dental visits and a balanced diet.

Caregivers may need to provide oral hygiene assistance to people with special needs. Here are some tips:

• Choose a well-lit, convenient location.
  
  
• If the person is uncooperative or uncontrollable, try to calm him or her by explaining what you are about to do, or schedule the task for a time of day when the person is more rested or may be more receptive.
  
  
• Move in a calm, slow, reassuring manner to avoid startling the person.
  
  
• Give verbal praise and reinforce independent attempts.
  
  
• Support the person’s head, and take special care to prevent choking or gagging when the head is tilted back.
  
  
• If the person is unable or unwilling to keep their mouth open, you can make a mouth prop can by taping several tongue blades together. Discuss with your dentist how to insert a mouth prop to avoid injury to teeth.

Suggestions for Special Needs People

The ADA Council on Access, Prevention and Interprofessional Relations (CAPIR) suggests that you ask the dentist if he or she has training, experience and an interest in treating patients with your specific condition. Does the dentist participate in your dental benefit plan (dental insurance program)? And, is the dental facility is accessible to the disabled?

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Frequently Asked Questions

• Tips for People Who Have Special Needs

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Additional Resources

ADA Dental Minute

• National Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped

Resources to Contact

• The dental director at your state department of public health.
• The nearest dental school clinic or hospital dental department, especially if it is affiliated with a major university.
• The Special Care Dentistry (Formerly Federation of Special Care Organizations in Dentistry, the Academy of General Dentistry and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry for a referral.
• The National Oral Health Information Clearinghouse may have useful information.
• Contact the National Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped (NFDH), a charitable
  affiliate of the American Dental Association since 1988. The NFDH, via several programs, facilitates the provision of comprehensive dental care for needy disabled, elderly, and medically compromised individuals.

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Please note: The ADA does not provide specific answers to individual questions about fees, dental problems, conditions, diagnoses, treatments or proposed treatments, or requests for research. Information about dental referrals, complaints and a variety of dental procedures may be found here. You can also refer to our Frequently Asked Questions page for answers to common questions.