Abstract
There is an evident deficit in oral health care of individuals with special health care needs. This deficit is in the ability to receive treatment from trained dental providers, as well as receiving adequate preventative care from caregivers or having the knowledge and skill to administer the care themselves. An overall lack of education and adequate training is a key factor to this insufficiency. The lack of education and clinical training of dental providers while in school and the lack of knowledge and skill caregivers have results in negative communication and experiences between the provider and the patient. The community of individuals with special health care needs require distinct methods of care as many have physical or mental strains that require an adaptive treatment plan and willingness to administer unique treatment. In this work, the discussion is directed towards the vitality of accessible caregiver training in the near future. Necessary steps are being taken to provide training to caregivers, but the accessibility factor is a major drawback to these trainings as it limits the participants. Accessible caregiver training will decrease this deficit of care, while increasing the overall oral health of the community of individuals with special health care needs.
Semester/Year of Award
Fall 2020
Mentor
Patrick J. Calie
Mentor Department Affiliation
Biological Sciences
Access Options
Restricted Access Thesis
Document Type
Bachelor Thesis
Degree Name
Honors Scholars
Degree Level
Bachelor's
Department
Biological Sciences
Recommended Citation
Reister, Emma C., "Understanding the Misunderstood: An Analysis of Special Needs Dentistry" (2020). Honors Theses. 795.
https://encompass.eku.edu/honors_theses/795
ReisterFigure1.jpg (47 kB)
Correlation between systemic conditions and the oral health burdens that can arise (Thikkurissy and Lal, 2009).
ReisterFigure2.jpg (30 kB)
Percentage of global population living with a moderate to severe disability (Faulks, et al. 2012).
ReisterFigure3.jpg (27 kB)
Comparison of diligence and self-efficacy of caregivers pre-training and post-training (Pradhan, et al. 2016).
ReisterFigure4.jpg (51 kB)
Self-reported knowledge, confidence, and skill levels of caregivers’ pre-treatment and post-treatment (Pradhan, et al. 2016).
ReisterFigure5.jpg (42 kB)
Flossing report of caregivers immediately following training and three months post-training (Fickert and Ross, 2012).
ReisterFigure6.jpg (55 kB)
Tooth brushing report of caregivers immediately following training and three months post-training (Fickert and Ross, 2012).
ReisterFigure7.jpg (23 kB)
Suctioning report of caregivers immediately following training and three months post-training (Fickert and Ross, 2012).
ReisterFigure8.jpg (19 kB)
The future in decreasing the deficit of oral health care in individuals with special health care needs.
