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Review Article
Redefining the Oral Health Needs of Special Health Care Children: Strengthening Preventive Screening and Community-Based Dental Care
Dr. Prakashini Selvakumar1
Dr. Prathiksha J2
Dr. Umesh K3
Dr. Pradeepan4
1 2 RVS Dental College and Hospital, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India. 3 Professor & HOD, Department of Public Health Dentistry, RVS Dental College and Hospital, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India. 4 Lecturer, RVS Dental College and Hospital, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India
Published Online: March-April 2026
Pages: 144-149
Cite this article
↗ https://www.doi.org/10.59256/ijrtmr.20260602021References
1. American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Policy on oral health care for children with special Health care needs. Pediatr Dent. 2023;
45(6):29-34.
2. Anders PL, Davis EL. Oral health of patients with intellectual disabilities: a systematic review. Spec Care Dentist. 2010; 30(3):110-117.
3. Balmer R, Mount H. The oral health of children with special needs. Dent Update. 2022; 49(9):774-780.
4. Beauchamp J, Caufield PW, Crall JJ, et al. Evidence-based clinical recommendations for the use of pit-and-fissure sealants. J Am Dent
Assoc. 2014; 139(3):257-268.
5. Binkley CJ, Garrett B, Johnson KW. Oral health care for children with developmental disabilities. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2011;
58(6):1483-1494.
6. Casamassimo PS, Seale NS, Ruehs K. General dentists' perceptions of educational and treatment issues affecting access to care for children
with special health care needs. J Dent Educ. 2004; 68(1):23-28.
7. Cermak SA, Stein Duker LI, Williams ME, et al. Sensory adapted dental environments to enhance oral care for children with autism
spectrum disorders: a randomized controlled pilot study. J Autism Dev Disord. 2015; 45(9):2876-2888.
8. Chi DL, Momany ET, Jones MP, et al. Impact of chronic condition status and severity on dental utilization for Iowa Medicaid-enrolled
children. Med Care. 2011; 49(6):497-505.
9. Dao LP, Zwetchkenbaum S, Inglehart MR. General Dentists and special needs patients: does dental education matter? J Dent Educ. 2005;
69(10):1107-1115.
10. Davis EE, Deinard AS, Maiga EW. Doctor, my teeth hurt: the oral health of children with special health care needs. Matern Child Health
J. 2010; 14(6):885-893.
11. Edelstein BL. The dental caries pandemic and disparities problem. BMC Oral Health. 2018; 6(Suppl 1): S2.
12. Waldron J, Hallas D, Sheller B. Behavioral resistance and sensory hypersensitivity limit effective toothbrushing practices. J Public Health
Dent. 2022; 82(2):145-152. doi:10.1111/jphd.12497.
13. Nelson LP, Savit MN, Savage MF, et al. Communication limitations reduce early reporting of oral discomfort in children with special
health care needs. Spec Care Dentist. 2023; 43(1):88-95. doi:10.1111/scd.12741.
14. Shah AH, Naseem M, Khan MS, Asiri FYI, AlQarni I, Gulzar S, et al. Oral health knowledge and attitude among caregivers of special
needs patients at a comprehensive rehabilitation centre. Ann Stomatol (Roma). 2017; 8(3):110-116.
15. Moursi AM, Fernandez C, Daronch M, et al. Dental care for children with special health care needs. Clin Pediatr Dent. 2010; 34(4):287-
292.
16. Glassman P, Subar P. Improving oral health for people with special needs. Dent Clin North Am. 2010; 54(3):631-639.
17. Costa FS, Silva-Sousa YC, Sousa-Neto MD. Gingival enlargement and xerostomia in children under long-term anticonvulsant therapy: a
clinical assessment. Spec Care Dentist. 2021; 41(3):290-298. doi:10.1111/scd.12564.
18. Nightingale S, Wright R, Rogers S. Clinical exposure and confidence of general dentists in managing children with special health care
needs: a national survey. Spec Care Dentist. 2025; 45(1):66-74. doi:10.1111/scd.13021.
19. American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Guideline on management of dental patients with special health care needs. Pediatr Dent.
2022;44(6):245-259.
20. Nelson LP, Savit MN, Savage MF, et al. Standardized screening and risk-based assessment tools in pediatric dental practice. J Public
Health Dent. 2020; 80(3):245-252. doi:10.1111/jphd.12377.
21. Hummel J, Phillips KE, Holt B, Hayes C. Incorporating oral health screening into paediatric medical visits: the early referral pathway.
Pediatrics. 2022; 149(4): e2021056150. doi:10.1542/peds.2021-056150.
22. Steinmetz J, Shaefer SM, Berg JH. School-based screening programs for identifying untreated dental disease in children with special
needs. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2023; 51(4):421-430. doi:10.1111/cdoe.12845.
23. Gupta A, Marya CM, Juneja V, Dahiya V. Effectiveness of fluoride varnish and dietary counseling in high-risk pediatric populations: a
longitudinal study. BMC Oral Health. 2024; 24:55. Doi: 10.1186/s12903-024-03912-8.
24. Simmer-Beck M, Gadbury-Amyot CC, Ferris H, et al. extending oral health care services to underserved children through a school-based
collaboration: Part 1. J Dent Hyg. 2011; 85(3):181-188.
25. Sloane C, Slack-Smith L. Dental health and access to dental care for children with intellectual disabilities in Perth, Western Australia.
Aust Dent J. 2014; 59(3):320-324.
26. Waldman HB, Perlman SP. Ensuring oral health for individuals with disabilities. J Am Dent Assoc. 2002; 133(12):1581-1587.
27. Fisher MA, Mascarenhas AK. Does Medicaid improve utilization of dental care among children with special health care needs? Public
Health Rep. 2007;122(4):457-465.
28. Prabhakar AR, Kurthukoti AJ, Gupta P. Dentists’ perceptions about providing oral health care to children with special needs in India. Spec
Care Dentist. 2012;32(5):191-197.
29. Rajeevan RA, Aparna K, Elenjickal MG, et al. Oral health disparities among children with special healthcare needs: a comparative cross-
sectional study. Eur Arch Paediatr Dent. 2025.
45(6):29-34.
2. Anders PL, Davis EL. Oral health of patients with intellectual disabilities: a systematic review. Spec Care Dentist. 2010; 30(3):110-117.
3. Balmer R, Mount H. The oral health of children with special needs. Dent Update. 2022; 49(9):774-780.
4. Beauchamp J, Caufield PW, Crall JJ, et al. Evidence-based clinical recommendations for the use of pit-and-fissure sealants. J Am Dent
Assoc. 2014; 139(3):257-268.
5. Binkley CJ, Garrett B, Johnson KW. Oral health care for children with developmental disabilities. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2011;
58(6):1483-1494.
6. Casamassimo PS, Seale NS, Ruehs K. General dentists' perceptions of educational and treatment issues affecting access to care for children
with special health care needs. J Dent Educ. 2004; 68(1):23-28.
7. Cermak SA, Stein Duker LI, Williams ME, et al. Sensory adapted dental environments to enhance oral care for children with autism
spectrum disorders: a randomized controlled pilot study. J Autism Dev Disord. 2015; 45(9):2876-2888.
8. Chi DL, Momany ET, Jones MP, et al. Impact of chronic condition status and severity on dental utilization for Iowa Medicaid-enrolled
children. Med Care. 2011; 49(6):497-505.
9. Dao LP, Zwetchkenbaum S, Inglehart MR. General Dentists and special needs patients: does dental education matter? J Dent Educ. 2005;
69(10):1107-1115.
10. Davis EE, Deinard AS, Maiga EW. Doctor, my teeth hurt: the oral health of children with special health care needs. Matern Child Health
J. 2010; 14(6):885-893.
11. Edelstein BL. The dental caries pandemic and disparities problem. BMC Oral Health. 2018; 6(Suppl 1): S2.
12. Waldron J, Hallas D, Sheller B. Behavioral resistance and sensory hypersensitivity limit effective toothbrushing practices. J Public Health
Dent. 2022; 82(2):145-152. doi:10.1111/jphd.12497.
13. Nelson LP, Savit MN, Savage MF, et al. Communication limitations reduce early reporting of oral discomfort in children with special
health care needs. Spec Care Dentist. 2023; 43(1):88-95. doi:10.1111/scd.12741.
14. Shah AH, Naseem M, Khan MS, Asiri FYI, AlQarni I, Gulzar S, et al. Oral health knowledge and attitude among caregivers of special
needs patients at a comprehensive rehabilitation centre. Ann Stomatol (Roma). 2017; 8(3):110-116.
15. Moursi AM, Fernandez C, Daronch M, et al. Dental care for children with special health care needs. Clin Pediatr Dent. 2010; 34(4):287-
292.
16. Glassman P, Subar P. Improving oral health for people with special needs. Dent Clin North Am. 2010; 54(3):631-639.
17. Costa FS, Silva-Sousa YC, Sousa-Neto MD. Gingival enlargement and xerostomia in children under long-term anticonvulsant therapy: a
clinical assessment. Spec Care Dentist. 2021; 41(3):290-298. doi:10.1111/scd.12564.
18. Nightingale S, Wright R, Rogers S. Clinical exposure and confidence of general dentists in managing children with special health care
needs: a national survey. Spec Care Dentist. 2025; 45(1):66-74. doi:10.1111/scd.13021.
19. American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Guideline on management of dental patients with special health care needs. Pediatr Dent.
2022;44(6):245-259.
20. Nelson LP, Savit MN, Savage MF, et al. Standardized screening and risk-based assessment tools in pediatric dental practice. J Public
Health Dent. 2020; 80(3):245-252. doi:10.1111/jphd.12377.
21. Hummel J, Phillips KE, Holt B, Hayes C. Incorporating oral health screening into paediatric medical visits: the early referral pathway.
Pediatrics. 2022; 149(4): e2021056150. doi:10.1542/peds.2021-056150.
22. Steinmetz J, Shaefer SM, Berg JH. School-based screening programs for identifying untreated dental disease in children with special
needs. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2023; 51(4):421-430. doi:10.1111/cdoe.12845.
23. Gupta A, Marya CM, Juneja V, Dahiya V. Effectiveness of fluoride varnish and dietary counseling in high-risk pediatric populations: a
longitudinal study. BMC Oral Health. 2024; 24:55. Doi: 10.1186/s12903-024-03912-8.
24. Simmer-Beck M, Gadbury-Amyot CC, Ferris H, et al. extending oral health care services to underserved children through a school-based
collaboration: Part 1. J Dent Hyg. 2011; 85(3):181-188.
25. Sloane C, Slack-Smith L. Dental health and access to dental care for children with intellectual disabilities in Perth, Western Australia.
Aust Dent J. 2014; 59(3):320-324.
26. Waldman HB, Perlman SP. Ensuring oral health for individuals with disabilities. J Am Dent Assoc. 2002; 133(12):1581-1587.
27. Fisher MA, Mascarenhas AK. Does Medicaid improve utilization of dental care among children with special health care needs? Public
Health Rep. 2007;122(4):457-465.
28. Prabhakar AR, Kurthukoti AJ, Gupta P. Dentists’ perceptions about providing oral health care to children with special needs in India. Spec
Care Dentist. 2012;32(5):191-197.
29. Rajeevan RA, Aparna K, Elenjickal MG, et al. Oral health disparities among children with special healthcare needs: a comparative cross-
sectional study. Eur Arch Paediatr Dent. 2025.
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