DEFINITIONS: DENTAL DISABILITY
Definition of Dental Disability
Latest Revision
2017
Dental caries, periodontal disease, dentoalveolar trauma, and
other pathological orofacial conditions, left untreated, can
limit substantially an individual’s development and quality
of life. Therefore, an individual should be considered to have
a dental disability if orofacial pain, infection, or pathological
condition and/or lack of functional dentition affect nutritional
How to Cite: American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Definition of
dental disability. The Reference Manual of Pediatric Dentistry. Chicago,
Ill.: American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry; 2021:17.
intake, growth and development, or participation in life
activities.
This definition was developed by the Child Abuse Sub-
committee of the Clinical Affairs Committee and adopted
in 1983. This document is an update of the previous version,
revised in 2012.
THE REFERENCE MANUAL OF PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY 17