Journal of AdvancedMedical and Dental Sciences Research

The main concern for the development of the future of our society is ensuring the healthy growth of our children. The disabilities of children with special health care needs (SHCN) directly or indirectly relates to their dental condition. Such children relatively have poor oral hygiene and also increased prevalence has been seen for gingival diseases and dental caries. However, the health planners have overlooked the importance of the dental care for these children. Unfortunately, usually the parents of disabled children do not seek for the dental treatment as they have been over burdened by the medical treatment. Earlier, the priority was based upon providing the basic dental care, but recently the dental profession has shown an increased concern in contributing to provide the complete oral health care to the physically or mentally challenged children. Pediatric dentistry provides the primary and comprehensive as well as the preventive and therapeutic oral health care to special children. In order to achieve an appropriate rehabilitation, these special children are also entitled to the opportunity that enables them not only to realize their maximal level of functioning and to help them in normalizing their lives but also in lengthening their life span. Key words: Developmental delay, health care, mental impairment, special children