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- The federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau has
defined children with special health care needs
as those “who have or are at increased risk
for a chronic physical, developmental, behavioral,
or emotional condition and who require health and
related services of a type or amount beyond that
required by children generally.”[1]
- Because infants and children with special health
care needs have a number of other needs (e.g., physical,
developmental, or emotional needs), oral health
may not be regarded as a priority.[3]
- Many infants and young children with special health
care needs may not be referred to a dentist until
an oral health problem affects their overall health.
- Many parents of children with special health care
needs lack confidence about performing oral care
for their child because they have inadequate information
about oral growth and development.[4]
- Results of the 1994-1995 National Health Interview
Survey on access to care and use of services by
children with special health care needs indicate
that the most prevalent unmet need is dental care.[8]
- Infants and young children with special health
care needs may be at risk for a variety of oral
conditions relating to oral development, oral trauma,
bruxism, oral infections, and/or gingival overgrowth.
- Through performing an oral screening, health professionals
can demonstrate to parents the growth and development
of the infant’s or child’s mouth and
can determine oral health status.[10]
- Health professionals can help prevent or reduce
the seriousness of oral health problems in infants
and young children with special health care needs
by providing parents with anticipatory guidance.
- Health professionals can help parents ensure that
their child experiences optimal oral health by assisting
them in finding a dentist that has experience in
treating infants and young children with special
health care needs.
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