About this Research Topic
Oral Health is essential to general health and for personal wellbeing. The synergistic relationship between oral and systemic health is an essential driver of the health in general, and has strong psychological, biological and social impact. Many children with physical and cognitive disability have poor and unmet oral health needs.
Children with special healthcare needs include those with intellectual disability (ID), Down Syndrome (DS), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), cerebral palsy (CP), epilepsy (EP), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). These children are at a greater risk of poor oral health because of oral infections, moderate to severe malocclusion, periodontal diseases, bruxism, deleterious effects of medicines, craniofacial birth defects and inadequate development of psychomotor skills. Many also have limited access to oral health care facilities, experience neglect, communication barriers and poor competency and preparedness of health facilities to handle their oral health care needs.
There are multiple studies on the prevalence of oral diseases in children with special healthcare needs. There is little known about how to institute preventive oral health care in routine medical care of children with special healthcare needs. There is also a dearth of information on effective strategies for oral health education and promotion. There are disparities in access to oral health care for children with special healthcare needs even in resource-rich settings. There is also little known about how to support families and communities to promote oral health care for children with special healthcare needs.
The World Health Organization estimates that 10% of the total population in developed countries and 12% in Low-Middle Income Countries (LMICs) suffer from a mental or physical disability. Given the sheer number of people living with a disability globally and in LMICs, it is necessary to provide evidence to support the oral health care in these populations. Context specific information will aid the formulation of context specific policies and the design of context specific programs.
Keeping these factors in mind, this Research Topic focuses on the oral health care needs of children with special healthcare needs in LMICs. The call for papers will focus the following areas for submission:
• Health policies and health educational awareness
• Healthcare strategies for children with special healthcare needs
• Rehabilitation strategies for children with special healthcare needs
• Prevention strategies using oral health education and promotion
• Risk factors for children with special healthcare needs
Children with special healthcare needs include those with intellectual disability (ID), Down Syndrome (DS), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), cerebral palsy (CP), epilepsy (EP), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). These children are at a greater risk of poor oral health because of oral infections, moderate to severe malocclusion, periodontal diseases, bruxism, deleterious effects of medicines, craniofacial birth defects and inadequate development of psychomotor skills. Many also have limited access to oral health care facilities, experience neglect, communication barriers and poor competency and preparedness of health facilities to handle their oral health care needs.
There are multiple studies on the prevalence of oral diseases in children with special healthcare needs. There is little known about how to institute preventive oral health care in routine medical care of children with special healthcare needs. There is also a dearth of information on effective strategies for oral health education and promotion. There are disparities in access to oral health care for children with special healthcare needs even in resource-rich settings. There is also little known about how to support families and communities to promote oral health care for children with special healthcare needs.
The World Health Organization estimates that 10% of the total population in developed countries and 12% in Low-Middle Income Countries (LMICs) suffer from a mental or physical disability. Given the sheer number of people living with a disability globally and in LMICs, it is necessary to provide evidence to support the oral health care in these populations. Context specific information will aid the formulation of context specific policies and the design of context specific programs.
Keeping these factors in mind, this Research Topic focuses on the oral health care needs of children with special healthcare needs in LMICs. The call for papers will focus the following areas for submission:
• Health policies and health educational awareness
• Healthcare strategies for children with special healthcare needs
• Rehabilitation strategies for children with special healthcare needs
• Prevention strategies using oral health education and promotion
• Risk factors for children with special healthcare needs
Keywords: Dental Caries, Special health care needs, Disabilities, DMF Index, Oral Health, Oral Hygiene, Dental Care for Disabled, Dental Care for Children, Developmental disability, Intellectual disability, Oral health promotion, Pediatric dentistry, LMICs, Low-Middle Income Countries
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