Why these patients can’t say cheese

New Delhi: Of every 100 patients visiting Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences (MAIDS), nearly six are people with special needs. And yet, there aren’t any special facilities there for their treatment, whether it is equipment or a specialist’s ability to deal with them.

All that is likely to change with the hospital setting up a separate department called ‘Saksham’ in its new building, which will be dedicated to disabled patients. Among others, the department will have dental chairs compatible with wheelchairs and a conscious sedation unit, Dr Mahesh Verma, director of MAIDS said.

Verma said nearly 6% of all patients seen at the hospital suffer from physical disability and mental health issues. “Presently, they are seen in routine care. But we have experienced that the facilities aren’t sufficient and hence the decision to create a separate wing where comprehensive care can be provided to them,” Dr Verma said.

Another doctor added that MAIDS has treated over 15 patients with severe mental health disorders and 75 patients with physical disabilities in routine care in the recent past.

“It is very challenging to deal with such patients, particularly those suffering from mental health disorders. They don’t cooperate and even for small procedures sedation is required. Also, dentists have to have empathy and patience while dealing with them,” said Dr Ruchika Roongta Nawal, in charge of the programme for special needs dentistry.

The concept of special needs dentistry is almost non-existent in India, but abroad, and particularly in countries like Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, it is an established practice with special training programmes.

Dr Nawal said they are training by way of experience. “Also, some of us have visited abroad to witness the best practices. We are also collaborating with schools for children with special needs to understand how to deal with such patients and develop tools to create awareness about oral healthcare among them,” she added.

A dentist has to learn to communicate properly according to the disability of his/her patient. “You cannot make them move from one department to another for treatment. Integration of dental services is a must,” said Dr Vikrant Mohanty of public health and preventive dentistry, MAIDS.

He added that patients with special needs should be supported emotionally. “I have seen many families that neglect oral healthcare needs of such patients because of the inconvenience faced in getting them treated. Even the patients resist hospital visits. It is important to make the environment conducive and supportive to encourage them to seek treatment,” Mohanty said.