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Periodontal disease and the special needs patient
Author(s) -
Brown Louise F.,
Ford Pauline J.,
Symons Anne L.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
periodontology 2000
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.725
H-Index - 122
eISSN - 1600-0757
pISSN - 0906-6713
DOI - 10.1111/prd.12198
Subject(s) - medicine , incidence (geometry) , disease , medical prescription , population , periodontal disease , psychological intervention , dentistry , intensive care medicine , family medicine , environmental health , nursing , physics , optics
Individuals with special needs are at more risk of dental disease, including periodontal diseases, and have a greater prevalence and incidence of periodontal diseases than the rest of the population. Genetic or medical conditions, and/or the use of prescription medication or recreational substances, may further increase the risk for susceptibility to periodontal disease. The success of preventing or controlling periodontal diseases amongst this group of patients has not been established. Even those individuals who access regular and comprehensive dental care appear to develop periodontal diseases as they age, and this development occurs at a rate comparable to the natural history of the disease. The reasons behind the lack of success of interventions in reducing the incidence of periodontal diseases are complex and part of the lack of success may relate to the professional challenges in treating individuals with special needs.