Orthodontics and the population with special needs.

During the past 30 years, more than three quarters of individuals with mental retardation/developmental disabilities have been deinstitutionalized and now reside in our communities, relying on community physicians and dentists (even orthodontists) for needed services. A presentation is made to increase orthodontic practitioner awareness of the magnitude and dimension of the increasing numbers of youngsters and adults with special needs who now reside in their communities and require their services, and to provide some insight and response for the query, "Why orthodontics?"