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Abstract

Patients with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) often have poor oral hygiene due to restricted mobility and dependence on caregivers. This review presents an update on oral health care and hygiene for patients with SCIs. Recent finding suggest that patients with SCIs have high prevalence of dental caries, gingival bleeding, and dental plaque. Patients with SCIs experience barriers to oral health care and hygiene and receive lesser preventative care screenings compared to nondisabled individuals. Patients with SCIs should be provided access to all the dental care to improve and maintain their quality of life. Barriers to access of dental services should be identified and removed in dental clinics if adequate oral health care and hygiene is to be provided for patients with SCIs.