Impact of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) on Dental Treatment for People with Disabilities

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Saulo V. da Rosa ◽  
Samuel J. Moysés ◽  
Laís C. Theis ◽  
Renata C. Soares ◽  
Simone T. Moysés ◽  
...  

Background. People with disabilities tend to have greater oral health problems compared to those without disabilities. This may be due to barriers they come across in accessing dental services. Objectives. The objective of this systematic review was to provide a critical digest of the scientific literature concerning barriers and facilitators of access to oral health services for people with disabilities. Methods. The electronic databases PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS), and Brazilian Library of Dentistry (BBO) were searched using keywords relevant to the subject. The search was not restricted to specific languages or years of publication; all relevant studies were translated and reviewed. Results. Sixteen studies including 14 articles, a doctoral thesis, and a monograph were selected, and their quality was analysed using the Downs and Black assessment tool. Barriers to dental services were divided into physical or nonphysical based on the dentist’s perspective, as per the perception of parents/guardians or by the persons with disabilities. The barriers that emerged included the dentist’s lack of preparation to assist people with disabilities, structural problems of access to dental offices, communication difficulties, and lack of awareness regarding the need for dental treatment for the disabled person. Conclusion. It is concluded that people with disabilities continue to run into complex physical, behavioural, or multidimensional barriers in accessing dental services. Improved training of dentists for the care of this population is hereby emphasized. The legal framework enabling access to dental care for people with disabilities must also be respected in each country.


2018 ◽  
Vol 71 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 383-388
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Popovac ◽  
Ivica Stancic ◽  
Ana Vukovic ◽  
Nebojsa Despotovic

Introduction. The growing population of the elderly people and a proportional increase in the number of the elderly with different types of disabilities, necessitates a multidisciplinary approach to the assessment of their oral health and dental treatment. The ultimate aim is to retain a pain-free functional dentition and decrease the risk of future disease. Material and Methods. A PubMed search was performed and the authors contributed their experience in implementing preventive and therapeutic measures. Oral health problems of the elderly with disabilities. Two main factors influence the oral health: multimorbidity and polypharmacy. Oral health problems expected in this population are teeth abrasion, teeth fractures, root caries, periodontitis and problems with wearing dentures due to stomatitis caused by Candida albicans. Oral health assessment and treatment guidelines. This article provides guidelines for assessment and treatment planning, taking into consideration multimorbidity, polypharmacy, dementia and capacity of caregivers. Preventive measures. Preventive measures are crucial for long-term oral health of this population, and this paper provides guidelines for preventive treatment depending on the degree of functional dependence. Prosthetic treatment. Although some elderly with disabilities are suitable for conventional prosthetic treatment, often there are contraindications and specific considerations that must be taken into account. Conclusion. Oral health needs of the elderly people with disabilities should not be neglected and the success of treatment depends on the education of dental professionals and cooperation with other health professionals of the medical team.


Author(s):  
Sun-ju Kim ◽  
Jin-sun Park

To maintain the oral health and ability to smoothly receive dental treatment of people with disabilities, their accessibility to dental institutions must be enforced. Hence, this study aimed to assess the status of installation of convenience facilities for people with disabilities in dental institutions in Chungbuk Province, South Korea. According to the checklist based on installation items for convenience facilities for people with disabilities, 245 dental institutions in Chungbuk Province were visited and investigated to examine whether they had installed internal, intermediary, sanitary, and information-related facilities for people with disabilities. Inputs were analyzed using SPSS 25.0 (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA). Frequency analysis by item was conducted to determine the rate of installation, and Fisher’s exact test was performed to analyze the actual state of installation according to the type of institution. The results revealed a relatively higher rate of appropriate installation and access routes to the main entrance and parking spaces for people with disabilities in terms of intermediary and internal facilities, but at times they were installed at inappropriate locations or lacked proper signboards. The state of installation of convenience facilities by institution type was 0–1.3% per item at the clinic level but 75–87.5% per item in general and dental hospitals (p < 0.001). Insufficient government management and supervision at clinic-level dental institutions lead to limited scope for regulating the installation of convenience facilities. Better laws, with continued support and supervision of central and local governments, are needed to resolve this issue.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. 974-982
Author(s):  
Meignana Arumugham Indiran ◽  

It is of interest to document data on oral health care services for adults with cognitive and intellectual disabilities. Hence, a study protocol was registered at the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) with registration number: CRD42020150759. We used PubMed, Science Direct, LILACS and SCIELO to collect data from known literature using keywords containing MESH (Medical Subject Headings) terms. The risk of bias rating for the collected data was calculated using the Newcastle-Ottawa assessment Scale. The AHRQ (Agency for Healthcare, Research and Quality) was used for classifying the level of evidence in the collected data. Analysis of available data shows that there is a lack of dentists with adequate skills to treat people with disabilities resulting in high cost for dental treatment. Thus, we conclude that inconvenient location of dental clinic, lack of dentists willing to treat people with disabilities and attitude of dental staff towards people with learning disabilities were considered as barriers and challenges faced for dental health service utilization in this context.


Author(s):  
Melissa A. Pierce

In countries other than the United States, the study and practice of speech-language pathology is little known or nonexistent. Recognition of professionals in the field is minimal. Speech-language pathologists in countries where speech-language pathology is a widely recognized and respected profession often seek to share their expertise in places where little support is available for individuals with communication disorders. The Peace Corps offers a unique, long-term volunteer opportunity to people with a variety of backgrounds, including speech-language pathologists. Though Peace Corps programs do not specifically focus on speech-language pathology, many are easily adapted to the profession because they support populations of people with disabilities. This article describes how the needs of local children with communication disorders are readily addressed by a Special Education Peace Corps volunteer.


1992 ◽  
Vol 37 (12) ◽  
pp. 1297-1298
Author(s):  
Stuart E. Schwartz

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