Utilisation of dental services for people with special health care needs in Australia

Abstract

BACKGROUND: To explore the profile of patients and treatment delivered at specialist referral centres for individuals with special needs. METHODS: A cross-sectional audit was conducted of the health records of all patients with appointments at two of Australia's largest referral centres for patients with special needs, the Integrated Special Needs Department at the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne and the Special Needs Unit at the Adelaide Dental Hospital, for the month of August 2015. RESULTS: The profile of patients treated at these specialist units demonstrates the diversity of individuals with additional health care needs that general dentists feel require specialised oral health care...