Oral health in children and adolescents with special healthcare needs in South Africa: A narrative review

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17159/sadj.v79i02.17137

Keywords:

adverse, developmental, uncooperative

Abstract

Children and adolescents with special healthcare needs (CWSHCN) may experience disproportionately poorer general and oral health than healthy children.1-3 They are more at risk of common conditions such as dental caries and gingivitis resulting from poor oral health.4 They comprise of children and youth “with or at risk of chronic physical, developmental, behavioral or emotional conditions”,5 including, inter alia, intellectual disability (ID), cerebral palsy (CP), learning disability (LD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), hearing impairment (HI), Down Syndrome (DS), physical disabilities (PD), visual impairments (VI) and epilepsy (EP). Globally, the prevalence of disabilities is increasing, even in developing countries such as South Africa (SA), resulting in a greater burden on healthcare systems.6

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Author Biography

Phumzile Hlongwa, Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa



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Published

2024-04-14

How to Cite

Njoroge, N., Magan, A., & Hlongwa, P. (2024). Oral health in children and adolescents with special healthcare needs in South Africa: A narrative review. South African Dental Journal, 79(02), 102–108. https://doi.org/10.17159/sadj.v79i02.17137