EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN SPECIAL CARE DENTISTRY- A REVIEW

Abstract

Everyone has an equal right to good health and wellbeing, including persons with disabilities. In almost any community it is possible to see a few individuals suffering from handicaps of varying nature. These individuals with special health care needs are at increased risk for oral diseases. There are numerous challenges in providing oral health services for people with special needs which go beyond the normal considerations of other population. One of the reasons cited by practitioners for not treating special needs patients is that they have not had adequate training. The requirement for Special Care Dentistry in the undergraduate curriculum is limited in many countries. This has resulted in a dental professional that, on the whole, feels poorly prepared to provide dental care services for people with disability. Recognition of SCD as a specialty by the profession and other dental associations and organizations is the need of the hour. This review tries to narrate the situation of special care dentistry training in various parts of the world