Author: cathywarschaw
There is a unique branch of dentistry that is devoted to persons who have special needs. These persons may have a learning disability, a physical disease, a chronic condition, a mental illness or may not have access to good dental care (the homeless, those who abuse chemical substances or vagrants). People in these groups may have difficulty finding quality dental care for many reasons. Sometimes it is a physical barrier that keeps them from the dentist; like unable to climb outside stairs, not having dental clinics that are suitable to their needs in their neighborhoods, or dentists who are unwilling to care for them because of prejudiced attitudes.
The barrier at times can be the person himself or herself and their inability to understand the need for dental care or what is being done during procedures. Sometimes all they need is to be able to overcome anxiety associated with dental care. They may need more than patience and explanations; they may need sedation during procedures in order to be able to cope with having dental care performed. Sometimes anesthesia is required if the patient has uncontrolled bodily movements or have an inability to comprehend the proceedings and may become overly distraught or combative. General anesthesia should only be used when absolutely necessary due to the risk that anesthesia carries with it. Facilities designed to offer general anesthesia are also limited and not available in all areas.
The dentists who treat patients with special needs are going to have to address some special issues. These issues revolve around medical, consent, and equipment or product needs. Dentists who care for patients with special needs also need to have staff willing to be compassionate, and understanding of these very special patients.
Dental visits may require extra time for special needs because of equipment or for the time involved in explaining, soothing or assessing the ability of the patient to give legal permission to complete dental work. If the patient is unable to understand what the dental proceedings are about, a relative or legal guardian may need to be present that can act on the patients behalf.
Those in need of special care dentistry can find them in general dental practices, dental care given by health boards or dental clinics and dental hospitals. Not only do patients with special needs require at times special facilities or equipment; they also need dentists with compassion and the ability to understand the unique needs of their dental patients with special needs. Unfortunately parents or caregivers of young children with special needs may experience greater difficulty in finding appropriate dental care due to the nature of the specialty and special needs of children in general.
Adults and children with special needs still require the same kind of quality dental health care as those of us without special physical or mental needs.
Symptoms of gum disease may be painless and unrecognizable at its early stage. It can be indicated by red, tender and swollen gums and gums that bleeds easily during brushing and flossing. At its early stage of gum disease which is gingivitis, typical signs of gum disease occur and should not be neglected. Gingivitis may progress to advance gum disease, periodontitis.
At the first sign of gingivitis, the best thing to do is to immediately see a dental health care expert or dentist. The dentist will examine the condition of the mouth, gums and teeth and will make an assessment. Questions may be asked about swelling and bleeding of gums and oral hygiene habits. An evaluation or diagnosis will be made after the assessment. The dentist is the only person that can answer all the dental health questions and may detect unrecognizable symptoms of gum diseases with its proper equipments and facilities. Gum disease may be prevented and treated properly with dentist’s supervision combined with proper and good oral hygiene practice.
Oral health are most likely to be less prioritized by a lot of individuals, knowing that gum disease is one of the most common dental condition that they experience without their knowing for its symptoms are painless. Tooth decay is the mostly the one common reason why dental patient visit their dentists, and giving less priority to gum health. Gum disease and swollen gums should not be disregarded for it can wreck havoc to your oral health. The gum infection that causes swollen gums and gum disease can spread further to the gum tissues and bones that gives support to the teeth and may cause its fall out. And it can also spread out all over the body system causing the immune system to weaken, cardiovascular and respiratory disorders and chronic gum or periodontal disease that may even lead to major surgical treatments, thus it is necessary to give attention and seek dental help if any dental problems are being experienced.
A lot of people think that periodontal disease is dental problem being experienced only by adults. However, according to studies both adults and children have gingivitis – the mildest and earliest form of periodontal disease. Advance or chronic periodontal diseases are rare in children.
The best way to keep your child away from swollen gums and periodontal disease is to provide proper education about giving importance on oral care and hygiene and regular dental visit every six months. Parents must be aware of their children’s oral care practices, swollen gums, bleeding gums and children who suffer from cavities in even their baby teeth are the common results of poor oral practice in children.
Swollen gums in children are not amusing, like with adults it is a real warning sign of trouble. Regular dental visits are necessary in children to prevent loss of their baby teeth due to cavities and infection. Parents should supervise, encourage and educate their children with proper brushing and flossing to prevent pain and discomfort and tooth loss.
