Oral health and supporting people with intellectual disabilities to get access to dental treatment.

Why you should read this article: • To improve your knowledge of the barriers that people with intellectual disabilities experience when accessing dental services • To understand how to support people with intellectual disabilities with their oral healthcare • To familiarise yourself with latest evidence about optimal practice in oral healthcare for people with intellectual disabilities Oral health is an important aspect of a person's overall health and well-being. People with intellectual disabilities have poorer oral health than the general population, so it is essential that service users and their carers are supported to address this. This article provides information for nurses and other healthcare professionals on how to provide evidence-based practice that supports people with intellectual disabilities with their oral healthcare and assists them to access dental services. The authors examine the latest evidence about optimal practice in oral healthcare for people with intellectual disabilities, emphasising the importance of a person-centred approach. The article also discusses the barriers that people with intellectual disabilities experience when accessing dental services and how these barriers can be addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]