Special Care Dentistry: A Challenge to the Profession

Special healthcare needs (SHCN) can be developmental, congenital or acquired through trauma, disease or environmental causes, which may limit activities related to daily self-maintenance. Approximately 1 billion people (15% of the population globally) have some disability or special need. Among the dental diseases, dental caries is the most common issue across various disability groups, having a prevalence rate between 27.55% to 91.90% globally, along with poor periodontal health (23.9% - 97%) and Traumatic dental injuries (12.1%-40%). Due to challenges of limited access, financial constraints, lack of trained dental professionals and insufficient awareness about oral health, children's dental problems go undetected, causing a substantial unmet demand for dental treatment later in adulthood. By increasing access to appropriate healthcare facilities, providing dentists with specialized training, and continually implementing new treatment methods, special children can be empowered to receive the dental care they deserve.