Dentistry
for People who have Physical or Mental Disabilities . . .
Many people have disorders which cause chronic pain. Others have
back/joint problems, which make sitting in the dental chair difficult.
Some have heart or lung problems, diabetes or other systemic disorders
which necessitate careful monitoring during routine dental treatment.
Some require special prophylactic antibiotic coverage before a
procedure, such as patients with prosthetic heart valves. Asthmatic
patients may need bronchodialator inhalers; cardiac (heart) patients may
require careful control of the amount of epinephrine (adrenaline) used.
Severe gaggers or people with reactions to local anesthestics may fall
into this category. There are also people who, because of learning
disabilities or other handicaps, are not able to provide the cooperation
needed by the dentist.
For the apprehensive person, general anesthesia and sedation may
be the solution to a problem . . . that of postponing needed dental
treatment due to fear.
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