Rachel Howell and Mandy Brimble outline the importance of good dental care and access to treatment for vulnerable patients

Good dental health is essential for good communication, nutrition and self-esteem. There is evidence of a correlation between special needs, unequal access to dental care, poor dental health and insufficient improvement in dental services, particularly for children with special healthcare needs. Factors contributing to this situation include the characteristics of the individual’s disability, parental education and socioeconomic status, lack of appropriately trained dentists and a lack of research in the UK to guide progress.