Prosthodontic treatment of patients with disabilities at dental specialist clinics in the County of Västra Götaland.
In 1998 the Swedish Parliament decided about increased financing of dental support and service given to persons with disabilities who were dependent on nursing personnel or others in their activities of daily life including oral hygiene procedures. One part of the legislation called "Necessary dental care, group 3" (NDC3) includes persons with intellectual disabilities and disabilities due to brain damage, autism and autism-like disorders, and persons with lasting mental and physical disabilities not related to normal ageing. The objectives where to investigate persons affected by this legislation; how many and what patients covered by NDC3 in Västra Götaland County received prosthodontic therapy from 2001 through 2004, at hospital dental clinics or dental specialist clinics. Patients treated with prosthodontic restorations covered financially by the county council under the terms of NDC3 were identified through the county council's registers. The application forms for NDC3 were retrieved and information about patient characteristics and type of treatments were compiled. It was shown that 57 patients covered by NDC3 in Västra Götaland County received prosthodontic therapy at dental specialist clinics and 50 were treated at the hospital dental clinics for extensive prosthodontic treatment needs. The mean age for the patients rehabilitated with removable dentures was higher (56.2 years) compared with patients treated with single tooth implants (39.7 years). About 30 patients, representing 1 to 2% of the NDC3 population in Västra Götaland County were rehabilitated with more advanced prosthodontic restorations in hospital dental clinics or dental specialist clinics each year. In conclusion and with respect to the probably large need for prosthodontic therapy among persons with disabilities, the use of NDC3 has not been properly utilized.
Brahm
Carl-Otto
CO
Mun-H-Center, Odontologen, National Orofacial Resource Centre for Rare Disorders, Göteborg, Sweden.
Klingberg
Gunilla
G
Ekfeldt
Anders
A
D000368:Aged; D003730:Dental Care for Persons with Disabilities / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D003740:Dental Clinics / Q000191:economics; D015921:Dental Implants / Q000191:economics; D017266:Dental Prosthesis / Q000191:economics; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007347:Insurance, Dental; D008297:Male; D011476:Prosthodontics / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D012042:Registries; D013548:Sweden
D015921:Dental Implants