Addressing oral health needs among patients with intellectual disabilities

Individuals with intellectual disabilities could have a higher prevalence of oral health issues.

In a cross-sectional study published in Clinical Oral Investigations, investigators used data from the 2023 Special Olympics World Games to analyze the relationship between dental visits and oral health habits among more than 2,100 athletes with intellectual disabilities who partook in voluntary dental screenings.

The investigators found that more than 40% of the participants had untreated caries. Among those who did visit their dentist within the past year, a large proportion of them still had unmet treatment needs — including untreated carious lesions, gingivitis and missing teeth.

The findings highlighted the critical need for initiatives to minimize barriers to oral health care in this patient population.

Read more: Clinical Oral Investigations

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