Oral Healthcare for Persons With Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities: Why Is There a Disparity?

Despite some progress, a significant disparity still exists in oral healthcare between individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities and the general population. Barriers generated by finances, a lack of appropriately trained dental providers, and the patients themselves combine to create significant challenges to providing dental care. However, strategies exist that can help to decrease the magnitude of these hurdles so this disparity can be minimized.