Background
- Nationally: 78% of children with special health care needs were reported to need dental treatment and/or an examination in the prior 12 months; a need second only to the need for prescription medicine [1]
- Many individuals with special health care needs, chronic conditions and disabilities do not have access to regular and ongoing dental care.
- Dental disease prevention, keeping teeth and gums healthy, is a team effort of the person, dental and medical professionals, and parents/caregivers. Care of teeth and gums at home, good nutrition and other strategies are important; tips are included in the parent/caregiver fact sheets.
- Stay tuned for the Washington State Department of Health – Oral Health Program monograph with detailed information.
Resources for Patients and Health Care Professionals
Through information provided at this site, we hope more of these individuals will have access to dental care and receive home-based dental prevention activities.
- 17% of children in Washington State have a special need; half of these children have mild-moderate special needs.
- Many individuals with special needs do not have access to regular and ongoing dental care.
Fact sheets have been developed for mild to moderate manifestations of a number of special needs conditions. For most conditions there are separate fact sheets for Dental Professionals, Medical Professionals, and Parents and Caregivers. A General Guidance fact sheet is included and is available in Spanish.
Content for the fact sheets was developed by a group of experts affiliated with the University of Washington and the Washington State Department of Health – Oral Health Program.
Information on the process used to develop these fact sheets can be found in the following PDF: Summary Development Process.
Additional Guidance
- Guidance for Dental Professionals
- Guidance for Medical Professionals
- General Guidance Parents and Caregivers
- Child Abuse Guidance for Dental Professionals
1. Lewis, C., Robertson, A.S., Phelps, S. Unmet Dental Care Needs Among Children With Special Health Care Needs: Implications for the Medical Home. Pediatrics 2005 116; e426-e431.