Patients with special needs

Patients with special needs are all individuals who present any kind of condition (physical, intellectual, social or emotional impairment) that makes them require differentiated care.

The oral conditions of patients with special needs may be directly and indirectly related to the physical or mental disorders affecting them. Dental problems are frequent in these patients, since:

• They are patients with unsatisfactory oral health, due to neglect, lack of skill, patience and adequate information on the part of their carers;

• The incidence of tooth decay and gingivitis is generally very high, given these patients' inability to maintain adequate oral hygiene;
• Factors such as mouth breathing, the existence of an abnormal occlusion, a cariogenic diet and the effect of medication equally contribute to the worsening of oral health. In patients with special needs, prevention is extremely necessary, since treatments are most of the time difficult to carry out. In view of this, prevention and oral health education are fundamental, because oral health affects the quality of life of patients with special needs. To that end, preventive procedures involving routine actions should be carried out, such as: explanatory demonstrations of effective brushing methods, the importance of healthy and as little cariogenic as possible eating habits, fluoride application, tartar removal and the application of fissure sealants.

Dental care for patients with mental or physical disabilities is highly demanding; it requires a great deal of patience, dedication, skill and affection.

At Biuti Alvalade you will find a multidisciplinary team of differentiated professionals (Dentist, Oral Hygienist, Speech Therapist, Psychologist, among others) whose aim is to provide individualised treatment adapted to the specific needs of each patient.