Creating an inclusive practice

Students in England will soon be able to take British Sign Language as a GCSE. It will be taught in schools from September 2025 and will be open to all pupils. As we move towards an ever more inclusive society, dental professionals must ensure that patients with additional needs have access to the same level of oral health services and expertise as others. Understanding their unique challenges, adapting techniques, and creating a welcoming environment can help create a positive dental experience for these patients.

Dental patients with additional needs can encompass a wide range of disabling conditions including intellectual disability, dementia, physical limitations, movement disorders, behavioural disorders, and chronic medical conditions. Many of these individuals can be treated in routine dental settings with minimal special accommodations or with interventions that are well within the scope of most dental professionals.