3.2 Oral Examination
Q: Do oral health professionals serving children with special health care needs need any special equipment?
A: Special equipment is not necessary; however, items such as mouth props or arm immobilizers such as Pedi-Wraps can make providing care for some children with special health care needs more efficient and effective. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, dental offices are required to make reasonable modifications to facilitate access to the dental office for persons with disabilities. Dental chairs with movable armrests can make wheelchair transfers easier. If a wheelchair can fit parallel to the dental chair, then some procedures such as an oral examination can be conducted without transferring the child from the wheelchair to the dental chair. Children with sensory impairments or attention deficits may be easily distracted, so performing dental procedures and providing treatment in private operatories rather than open bays may be most effective. X-ray equipment that reaches low enough to accommodate children in wheelchairs is useful as well, as is panoramic film capability.