Decreasing Dental Resistance Among Individuals with Severe and Profound Mental Retardation

A significant number of individuals with mental retardation/developmental disabilities (MR/DD) are fearful of dental care resulting in a lack of cooperation or avoidance of dental treatment. Sedation and physical restraint are often used to help illicit cooperation among individuals with MR/DD. The following study examined the effect of a systematic desensitization procedure adapted to address the needs of individuals with severe and profound mental retardation. Participation levels of 35 individuals receiving dental desensitization were compared to a group of 28 individuals that had not received any intervention. Results indicated those receiving desensitization showed greater improvement in toleration of dental procedures than did those in the comparison group. Implications for future treatment avenues and investigations are discussed.