Characterization of patients and procedures performed in the service to patients with special needs of Araraquara School of Dentistry – UNESP

AbstractObjectiveTo characterize the patients and dental procedures performed in Service to Patients with Special Needs of Araraquara School of Dentistry (FOAr) – UNESP.MethodologyFrom the dental records of patients treated at outpatient basis between 2007 and 2013, information regarding age at the beginning of treatment, type of disability, controlled medications used, number of dental sessions, and number and type of dental procedures performed was obtained.ResultOf the 232 records analyzed, more than half of the patients (56.0%) had mental retardation, cerebral palsy or congenital abnormalities caused by infectious agents associated with mental retardation. Among the congenital abnormalities, the most prevalent was the Down syndrome (9.9%). Only 20% of patients started treatment before the age of ten and 62.0% used anticonvulsants, antipsychotics, anxiolytics, antidepressants and antiepileptics. A total of 4,506 dental procedures were performed, 37.6% were preventive procedures and 62.4% curative procedures (restorative, 28.0%; periodontal, 13.9%; endodontic, 9.7%; surgical, 9.1%, and prosthetic 1.7%). Also was observed that for most patients (63%) up to 10 sessions were required for the completion of treatment.ConclusionMost patients with special needs who sought dental treatment at FOAr presented neurological involvement. Despite this service prioritize preventive procedures; most of the procedures carried out were curative, fact directly linked to late search for the dental treatment.