A Dental visit for the Disabled

Any physical disability can make it harder to maintain oral hygiene. Disabled people are either born with their disabilities or have suffered disability because of an accident or illness.  Others may become disabled as a natural consequence of old age. People who are above 65 years of age may suffer from difficulties in seeing, hearing, talking, moving, tasting, chewing, smelling or swallowing. Each of these disabilities produces a set of challenges when it comes to dental hygiene, especially when it's time to visit the dentist.

Hearing disability
Close to a third of Americans above the age of 60 suffer from diminished hearing. Although hearing loss or reduction does not have a direct impact on oral health, it can create challenges in communication between patients and the dentist. People who can't hear properly are likely to feel anxiety before a dental appointment. They will find it harder to understand instructions, and this may cause dental phobia. Patients who wear a hearing aid must remember to wear it when they visit the dentist. Certain dental instruments like the hand drill can generate a high pitched sound, which can interfere with the working of the hearing aid and cause the patient pain. To avoid this, patients must reduce the volume of the hearing aid or switch it off during the procedure. Patients who lip read can understand instructions better when the dentist faces them as he speaks and speaks slowly. Patients must ask the dentist to face them when they give instructions. They must also inform the staff that they must turn off any background noise before speaking to them.       

Vision disability
Patients with a vision problem must make sure that staff in the dentist's office is aware of the problem. A companion who can accompany the patient to the appointment can help guide the patient into the dental chair. Ask the dentist to tell you about each step in the treatment before he takes the step.

Orthopedic disability
People with arthritis, osteoporosis, back pain or loss of limbs will need special care getting in and out of the dental chair. The appointment must be kept as brief as possible, and patients must be shifted often during treatment. Also, patients must ask for recommendations for dental aids that can help them undertake dental hygiene routines, like brushing and flossing easily. For instance, electric tooth brushes, dental floss, toothbrushes with larger handles and dental aids that shoot or splash water into the mouth to flush out debris can help these patients take better care of their teeth with minimal effort.

Besides the above, the disabled may also have difficulty in chewing and swallowing, and the dentist must be made aware of these problems. People with such disabilities tend to suffer from poor nutrition because they have trouble chewing and swallowing some foods. A dental visit is much more important for such patients because malnutrition can ultimately lead to an overproduction of mouth acids, and consequently loss of teeth.