CHILDREN WITH
DISABILITIES
CHILDREN WITH
DISABILITIES
CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

Children and youth who have special health care needs may also need specialized dental care. When people have physical, intellectual or emotional disabilities, they may have conditions that interfere with effective daily dental hygiene care.  In addition, they may be unable to access dental care that meets their specialized needs without driving long distances or waiting months to see a specialist.

Oral Health Kansas established several programs designed to support children and youth needs for individualized and specialized oral health care. These include partnering with state and local agencies serving children and youth as well as schools, distributing public awareness and oral health educational materials, and providing education and training opportunities for all who support the healthy development of children and youth.


Professional Dental Care

Specialized dental care for children and youth can be accessed through a number of private and public health dentists located throughout the state.


Overarching Goal:
To improve the oral health of children and youth with special health care needs

    Strategies:
  • Increase access to professional dental care for children and youth needing specialized care
  • Offer continuing dental education programs focusing on children and youth with special health care needs
  • Provide educational workshops on oral health care to all who support the health and development of children and youth with special health care needs
  • Maintain a statewide network of dental hygienists who are oral health educators



Videos

There are unique challenges to assisting people with developmental disabilities. These videos provide guidance for daily dental care at home and ways to have a successful dental visit.



D - Termined Program – Successful dental office visits for children
teaching families how to participate: David Tessini, DDS, Pediatric Dentist


Brushing The Teeth Of Others
a 12 minute video produced by Kansas Dental Association eaturing an occupational therapist demonstrating assisted guidance with adolescents. This film is designed to provide some basic toothbrushing guidance for caregivers. It examines five students at the Heartspring School in Wichita, KS, with instruction by Tim Koontz, an occupational therapist at the school.


 


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