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Oral Health Access Issues for Children with Special Health Care Needs

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Handbook of Children with Special Health Care Needs

Abstract

Maintaining good oral health is crucial for all children; all require consistent age-appropriate daily care. Most children with special health care needs have the same dental routines and can see the same dentists as their typical peers. Untreated dental conditions in children with special health care needs and particularly those with disabilities and significant health conditions can result in very serious behavioral and medical results. Due to higher medication usage, the physical characteristics associated with many disabilities, and the comorbidities that contribute to compromised health status, these children have an increased need for consistent and high quality dental care. This population suffers from reduced capabilities for daily hygiene, reduced number of professionals accepting them or their insurance, and less didactic and clinical training for dental professionals to make them more comfortable and competent with treating individuals with disabilities. Many advocates are working diligently on multiple strategies to solve the access issue for those children with special health care needs who are most at risk.

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Abbreviations

AADMD:

American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry

AAPD:

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

ACA:

Affordable Care Act

ADA:

American Dental Association

ADA:

Americans with Disabilities Act

AHRQ:

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

CDC:

United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

CHDIR:

CDC Child Health Disparities and Inequalities Report

CHIP:

Children’s Health Insurance Program

CMS:

United States Center for Medicaid Services

CODA:

Commission on Dental Accreditation

COPD:

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease/Disorder

CSHCN:

Children with Special Health Care Needs

DDS:

Doctor of Dental Sciences

DHPSA:

Dental Health Professions Shortage Areas

EPSDT:

Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment

GAO:

United States Government Accountability Office

HHS:

United States Department of Health and Human Services

HRSA:

United States Health Resources Services Administration

IV:

Intravenous

MD:

Medical Doctor

MPH:

Master of Public Health academic degree

MUP:

Medically Underserved Population

NADP:

National Association of Dental Plans

NIDCR:

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

NYSOPDD:

New York State Office on Persons with Developmental Disabilities

SCDA:

Special Care Dentistry Association

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. ACHIEVA, 711 Bingham Street, 15203, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Nancy J. Murray M.Ed. & Mary Anderson Hartley BA

Authors
  1. Nancy J. Murray M.Ed.
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  2. Mary Anderson Hartley BA
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Correspondence to Nancy J. Murray M.Ed. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina, 410 Berryhill, Chapel Hill, 27599-7575, North Carolina, USA

    David Hollar

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Murray, N., Hartley, M.A. (2012). Oral Health Access Issues for Children with Special Health Care Needs. In: Hollar, D. (eds) Handbook of Children with Special Health Care Needs. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-2335-5_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-2335-5_9

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