Effect of visual impairment upon oral health care: a review.

The incidence of visual impairment is increasing globally and in the United Kingdom due to local and systemic disease, medical advances, and the increasing age of population groups. Despite there being a large number of people resident in the UK with a visual impairment, there is little information available regarding the dental health care and needs of such individuals. As reported in other groups of patients with special needs, many individuals with a visual impairment may only seek oral health care when a problem arises, such as pain. Visual impairment may have a negative effect upon oral hygiene with many blind and partially sighted individuals having worse oral hygiene than sighted peers. This review article was undertaken to examine the literature relating to visual impairment, oral health and dental care. This article will discuss the dental aspects of visual impairment, its implications for obtaining dental care, associated oral conditions and medical complications.