Oral Health Outcomes and Perceived Screening Difficulties of Impaired Special Needs Adults

Objective: Oral health disparities exist among special needs adults who are institutionalized or in group homes. The purpose of this study was to complete an oral health status screening of special needs populations in Southern Nevada.

Methods: Trained and calibrated dental examiners performed oral health screenings using portable dental equipment. Differences in caries prevalence and severity in two settings [mental health institution (MHI)(n=41) and group homes for physically/mentally impaired residents (GH)(n=116)] were reported with questionnaire responses on access to care issues. Perceptions of screening differences were also reported by examiners.

Results: Majority of patients were males. MHI residents had a higher education level (n=14), having some college versus GH residents (n=1). There was a significant difference (p=0.026) in access to care between the MHI (n=29) versus the GH (n=100) group. There was no significant difference in prevalence (p=.676) or severity (p=.239) of caries between residents in the two settings. Examiners reported some differences [MHI (n=0), GH (n=32)] in screening difficulty experienced between groups.

Conclusion: Only 5% (n=6) of patients were found to be very difficult to screen and results indicate that there is little difference between screening patients in MHI or GH settings. Although perceived difficult to screen, this study indicates special needs patients are no more difficult than the general patient population. Additional studies need to be conducted to assess patient care with special needs patients. This study was funded by the Nevada State Health Division through Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.