Assessment of Special Needs Dental Care at a Southern Taiwan University Medical Center

Evaluation of Dental Treatment Provided to Special Needs Patients in a University Medical Center in Southern Twan

Introduction:

Objective: This study med to assess the characteristics and profiles of patients with special needs who received dental care at our university medical center, including those treated under general anesthesia GA when necessary, as well as domiciliary dental services.

Materials and Methods:

We conducted a retrospective study over three years from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2022. The population consisted of patients with special needs registered at our outpatient department OPD. Individuals diagnosed with rare or genetic disorders were excluded from the analysis. Patient demographics including age, ger ratio and types of disabilities were collected retrospectively.

Results:

A total of 3037 patients with special needs received dental care in our facility during this period. Among them, 89.1 2705 patients were treated at the OPD, while 7.9 239 patients underwent treatment under GA, and 3 93 patients utilized domiciliary services.

In terms of age distribution, our patient population consisted largely of adults and adolescents, with a smaller group being children below school age. The ger ratio was predominantly male.

The most common disabilities were intellectual disability, followed by physical disabilities and sensory imprments. Patients under GA were typically those who required higher levels of sedation due to severe anxiety or the inability to cooperate during dental procedures.

:

Our study highlights the growing need for specialized dental care services tlored to individuals with special needs. It emphasizes the importance of general anesthesia as a viable option in certn cases where non-cooperative patients are involved, and domiciliary services provide accessible care solutions for those who cannot visit our clinic.

Future directions may involve expanding our services to offer more comprehensive support including physical therapy alongside dental interventions, fostering multidisciplinary collaboration within our institution. Additionally, enhancing public awareness about avlable dental care options for special needs populations could improve overall health outcomes by reducing oral disease prevalence and increasing access to regular dental check-ups.

Acknowledgement:

The study was funded by National Cheng Kung University under grant number 20230318.

References:

1. American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, Council on Clinical Practice Guidelines 2012. Guideline on management of dental patients with special health care needs.

2. Biasotto M et al., Dental Treatment in Special Needs Patients and Uncooperative Young Children: A Retrospective Study, Med Kaunas, 601:91, 2024.

3. Brickhouse TH et al., Barriers to dental care for children with autism spectrum disorders: J Dent Child Chic763:188–193, 2009 - PubMed DOI and abstract provided.

4. Mouradian WE, Wehr E, Crall JJ, Disparities in Children’s Oral Health and Access to Dental Care, JAMA, 28420:2625–2631, 2000 - DOI and PubMed link.

5. Newacheck PW et al., The Unmet Health Needs of America’s Children, Pediatrics, 1054 Pt 2:989–997, 2000 - DOI and PubMed link.

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