Dental care for patients with developmental disabilities
The Department of Dentistry is staffed by specialist consultants, a senior registrar, postgraduate students and support staff who are all highly trained in the dental management of patients with developmental disabilities such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism and intellectual disability, who meet
our
eligibility criteria.
The dental staff have received graduate level training and have considerable experience in the use of a range of behaviour management techniques that can be used successfully in patients with developmental disabilities. Such techniques include, but are
not limited to: tell-show-do, nitrous oxide analgesia (laughing gas), conscious sedation and general anaesthesia.
At the first visit, a paediatric dentist will:
- gather detailed information regarding the patient's medical and dental history
- assess the ability of the patient to cooperate with oral hygiene practices and dental procedures
- perform a comprehensive oral examination
- formulate treatment plan options that consider the special needs of the patient and ensure the best possible outcome
- schedule further appointment(s) for the provision of care
Other specialised clinics are offered at the Royal Children's Hospital that cater to specific problems encountered in children with developmental disabilities:
The Department of Dentistry is staffed by specialist consultants, a senior registrar, postgraduate students and support staff who are highly trained and have considerable experience in the dental management of patients who are medically compromised.
For some medically compromised patients, poor oral health threatens their medical condition or their general health. An example of such a situation is a patient who develops a dental abscess while in an immuno-compromised state following bone marrow
transplantation. Because the patient is immuno-compromised, the dental infection could lead to a more generalized infection and become a life-threatening event. In other situations the patient's medical condition can adversely affect their oral health. An
example would be a patient on chemotherapy who develops painful mouth ulcers. Another consideration for patients who are medically compromised is that their condition may necessitate an alteration to the normal delivery of dental care. An example would be
administering blood factors before extracting teeth in patients with bleeding disorders.
The Department of Dentistry provides the following services for patients who are medically compromised:
- in-patient consultation
- oral rehabilitation under general anaesthesia on an outpatient or in-patient basis
- pre-procedural screening and treatment prior to surgical procedures; eg. an oral screening is part of routine pre-organ transplant programmes
- out-patient preventive and treatment services
At the first visit, a paediatric dentist will:
- gather detailed information regarding the patient's medical and dental history
- perform a comprehensive oral examination
- formulate treatment plan options after consultation with the patient's medical team that consider the special needs of the patient and ensure the best possible outcome
- schedule further appointment(s) for the provision of care
For further information regarding dental care for patients who are medically compromised:
Emergency dental care
The Department of Dentistry provides a 24-hour emergency service for children presenting with acute problems and dento-facial injuries requiring hospitalisation.
Unless the patient meets certain eligibility criteria, management will be limited to the presenting problem only and no long term or routine care will be provided by the department.
To access this service
- During office hours - 03 9345 5344
- After hours - 03 9345 5522 - and ask to page dentist
on call
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is a surgical specialty which treats conditions, defects, injuries and aesthetic aspects of the mouth, teeth, jaws, and face. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons care for patients who have problem wisdom teeth, tumours and cysts
of the jaws, facial pain, misaligned jaws, accident victims suffering facial injuries, as well as provide reconstructive and dental implant surgery. The Department of Dentistry works closely with the Royal Children's Hospital Department of Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery to provide oral surgical services for
patients.
Cleft lip and palate and Craniofacial anomalies
The Department of Dentistry has a number of specialist consultants who are members of the multidisciplinary team that provides ongoing assessment and management of the complex, long term needs of patients with cleft lip and palate and various craniofacial anomalies. The dental needs of patients with facial
deformities often begin early in life. Our specialist consultants evaluate each patient individually and then meet with the other members of the multidisciplinary team to formulate a treatment plan that will facilitate the best possible outcome. More information on cleft and palate can be found here.
The dental team may be called upon from infancy for patients with cleft lip and palate. They may need to fabricate appliances to enhance the alignment of the jaws prior to lip repair. As the patient grows older, the orthodontist may need to correct the
position of some teeth prior to alveolar bone grafting in adolescence. And then during the teenage years, definitive orthodontic care is often necessary. For some patients, a combination of orthodontics and surgery will be require to achieve the best alignment of the jaws. Throughout the patient's childhood,
adolescence and early adulthood, the Department of Dentistry provides preventive and restorative dental care as needed.
The Commonwealth Government Medicare system assists in the cost of dental care for individuals with clefts of the lip/palate and certain other nominated conditions under the
Cleft Lip and Palate Scheme. All children born with a cleft (and other
specific conditions) can access the Medicare Cleft Scheme which can help with
some of the costs of treatment associated with having a cleft of the lip and/or
palate. From a dental perspective the scheme effectively only applies to
orthodontic treatment and some dento-alveolar surgical procedures. It does NOT
cover any routine dental treatment nor any of the costs associated with
treatment under general anaesthesia.
For more information
- Visit your local Medicare office or
- Call Medicare on 13 2011 or 1300 652 492 or
- Contact Medicare Cleft Lip and Palate Scheme Support and Interpretation Section
PO Box 9822 Perth WA 6001
For further information on Cleft and Craniofacial Services at the Royal Children's Hospital
For further
information on cleft lip and palate and craniofacial anomalies in
general
Hypodontia clinic
The Department of Dentistry is staffed by a team of specialist consultants including a paediatric dentist, an orthodontist and a prosthodontist who provide consultation and management of patients with missing teeth.