Oral Health Challenges and Innovative Care Models for Patients with Special Care Needs
Keywords:
special care dentistry, oral health disparities, preventive care, interprofessional collaboration, tele-dentistry, health equity, healthcare innovationAbstract
Individuals with special care needs (SCN)—including those with physical, developmental, cognitive, sensory, and behavioral conditions—experience higher rates of oral disease and face persistent barriers to accessing dental care. These disparities stem from multifactorial challenges at the patient, provider, and systemic levels, including limited oral hygiene capacity, inadequate professional training, and fragmented healthcare delivery. This paper explores the oral health challenges of SCN populations and proposes an innovative care model emphasizing preventive approaches, interprofessional collaboration, medical–dental integration, and the use of tele- dentistry and mobile care units. The model supports workforce development through structured education in Special Care Dentistry and promotes sustainable access through blended financial frameworks involving public, institutional, and insurance-based support. Ultimately, this framework aims to reduce oral health inequities and enhance quality of life by advancing inclusive, preventive, and community-centered dental care for individuals with special care needs.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Mirza Baig (Author)
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