Oral health burden in children with systemic diseases.

Children who have systemic diseases face a burden of disease distinctly greater than their healthy counterparts. Neglect or delay of addressing this burden can lead not only to significant morbidity for the child, but also to family dysfunction. This article addresses issues salient to the understanding of oral health burden in children and families living with systemic disease. Topics include the parent as caregiver, children who have cerebral palsy, juvenile arthritis, developmental delay, and organ diseases.