Description
This article explores the concept of Special Care Dentistry (SCD); the background to the development of a Specialty in SCD; and the relationship between generalist and specialist care in the delivery of care to the population requiring SCD.
The majority of people with disability can, and should, be treated by the primary dental care network of general, personal and salaried dental services, with only those people at the complex end of the spectrum of disability receiving Specialist care. The establishment of a network of education and SCD services is required to improve access to care for people with disability, which currently may be compromised because of limited skills, experience, facilities or remuneration available to the dental team.
