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Challenges faced by special care patients

BDJ In Practice volume 32, pages 10–14 (2019)Cite this article

Special care dentistry is concerned with the improvement of oral health of individuals and groups in society who have a physical, sensory, intellectual, mental, medical, emotional or social impairment or disability or, more often, a combination of these factors. What those without impairment or disability would consider rudimentary tasks become all the more difficult. This article looks at some of the challenges faced by this cohort of patients, and what can be done to improve their patient journey.

In 2017/18, 13.3 million people reported a disability, equal to 21% of the UK population.1 The core definition of disability in the Equality Act 2010 is someone with a physical or mental impairment that has 'substantial' and 'long term' negative effects on their ability to do normal daily activities.

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References

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  1. BDJ In Practice, 64 Wimpole Street, W1G 8YS, London, UK

    David Westgarth

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  1. David Westgarth
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Correspondence to David Westgarth.

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Westgarth, D. Challenges faced by special care patients. BDJ In Pract 32, 10–14 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41404-019-0107-3

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