Dental health status of mentally and physically handicapped children and adults in the Galway Community Care Area of the Western Health Board.

An epidemiological survey was carried out to assess the treatment needs on the mentally and physically handicapped in the Galway Community Care Area. The survey was conducted by both questionnaire and clinical examination. The results of the survey indicate that the pattern of dental caries for the mentally and physically handicapped children is similar to that for the rest of the child population in Ireland. The results also show that extraction has been the treatment of choice for the mentally and physically handicapped. The periodontal assessment of the handicapped adult population found that moderate pocketing accounted for the bulk of periodontal disease present.