title: Dental health of children with cerebral palsy.
abstract: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a common chronic motor disorder with associated cognitive, communicative, and seizure disorders. Children with CP have a higher risk of dental problems creating significant morbidity that can further affect their wellbeing and negatively impact their quality of life. Screening for dental disease should be part of the initial assessment of any child with CP. The objective of this article is to present an updated overview of dental health issues in children with CP and outline important preventative and practical strategies to the management of this common comorbidity. Providing adequate oral care requires adaptation of special dental skills to help families manage the ongoing health issues that may arise. As oral health is increasingly recognized as a foundation for general wellbeing, caregivers for CP patients should be considered an important component of the oral health team and must become knowledgeable and competent in home oral health practices.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Basil M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Jan
authors.forename: Mohammed M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Jan
mesh_terms: D002012:Bruxism / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D017028:Caregivers / Q000193:education; D002547:Cerebral Palsy; D002648:Child; D003729:Dental Care; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000628:therapy; D008403:Mass Screening; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D011788:Quality of Life; D012798:Sialorrhea / Q000628:therapy; D009057:Stomatognathic Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D014077:Tooth Erosion / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy