A call for trauma‐informed dental care for individuals with intellectual disabilities

• Published in: Special care in dentistry Vol. 44; no. 4; pp. 1126 - 1134
• Main Authors: Kildahl, Arvid Nikolai, Berggren, Tiril, Rønneberg, Anne, Molnes, Charlotte Serina Yksnøy, Nordgarden, Hilde
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01-07-2024
• Subjects: abuse; Anxiety; Dental Anxiety - psychology; Dental care; Dental Care for Disabled - psychology; Dental insurance; Humans; Intellectual disabilities; Intellectual Disability - psychology; Oral Health; Oral hygiene; Psychological Trauma - psychology; Trauma; trauma‐informed; trauma; oral health; intellectual disabilities; abuse; trauma‐informed; dental care
• ISSN: 0275-1879; 1754-4505; 1754-4505
• DOI: 10.1111/scd.12959

People with intellectual disabilities are at increased risk of dental anxiety and poor oral health. In addition, people with intellectual disabilities are at increased risk of potentially traumatic experiences, such as violence and sexual abuse, and appear to be more vulnerable to developing trauma‐related disorders following such experiences. While psychological trauma is associated with poor oral health and dental anxiety in the general population, the potential link between dental anxiety, poor oral health and psychological trauma is yet to be explored in people with intellectual disabilities. In this conceptual paper, we provide an overview of recent findings concerning the relationships between oral health and intellectual disabilities, psychological trauma and intellectual disabilities, as well as between psychological trauma and oral health, and discuss the relevance of these findings related to dental care for people with intellectual disabilities. We conclude that psychological trauma is likely to contribute to dental anxiety and poor oral health also in people with intellectual disabilities. Implications include an urgent need for research exploring how trauma affects oral health and experiences of dental care for people with intellectual disabilities, as well as the importance of individualized and trauma‐informed dental care for these individuals.