Journal of Disability and Oral Health

cover art

Cover Date:
October 2002
Print ISSN:
1470-8558
Electronic ISSN:
1754-2758
Vol:
3
Issue:
2

Guidelines for oral health care for people with a physical disability

The impact of oral conditions on quality of life can be profound (Locker, 1992). These guidelines highlight some of the barriers and make recommendations to facilitate equitable access to dental services that are sensitive to individual needs and demands, reduce the potential burden that is associated with inadequate oral health care and improve quality of life (Appendix 1). In the United Kingdom, disability affects a wide segment of the population of all ages and social classes. Approximately 3 per cent of children under 16 have one or more disabilities of whom more than a quarter have limited mobility (Bone and Meltzer, 1989). Mobility is influenced by different types of disability (e.g. walking, seeing and mental impairment) and affects a third of children in communal establishments (Meltzer et al., 1989). Over 4 million adults have mobility problems and around two and a half million have difficulty with personal care (Martin et al., 1988). Prevalence of disability increases with age, with impaired mobility affecting 20 per cent of the 60 to 74 age group rising to 46 per cent over the age of 75. These restrictions have implications for access to services and the management of oral health care. Infor mation, access and transport are consistently quoted by disabled people as being the key to independence and choice (WCD and SS, 1987). Impaired mobility can lead to social isolation and, over time, conditions people to have lower expectations of services (DPTAC, 1990).

Article Price
£15.00
Institution Article Price
£15.00
Page Start
51
Page End
58
Authors
J E Griffiths

Articles from this issue

  • Title
  • Pg. Start
  • Pg. End

  1. Editorial
  2. 50
  3. 50

  1. Guidelines for oral health care for people with a physical disability
  2. 51
  3. 58

  1. The treatment needs of adults with inherited bleeding disorders
  2. 59
  3. 61

  1. Oral health status in children with Down syndrome
  2. 62
  3. 67

  1. Denture care of patients in a general hospital
  2. 68
  3. 71

  1. Swalloaid, a new prosthetic appliance for edentulous elderly people with dysphagia: a case report
  2. 72
  3. 76

  1. BSDH News
  2. 77
  3. 94

  1. Letters to the Editor
  2. 95
  3. 95

  1. Reviewers
  2. 96
  3. 96

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