Familiarity with the patient’s medical history is essential to decreasing the risk of aggravating a medical condition while rendering dental care. An accurate, comprehensive, and up-to-date medical history is necessary for correct diagnosis and effective treatment planning. Information regarding the chief complaint, history of present illness, medical conditions and/or illnesses, medical care providers, hospitalizations/surgeries, anesthetic experiences, current medications, allergies/sensitivities, immunization status, review of systems, family and social histories, and thorough dental history should be obtained.35 As many
children with SHCN may have sensory issues that can make the dental experience challenging, the dentist should include such considerations during the history intake and be prepared to modify the traditional delivery of dental care to address the child’s unique needs. If the patient/parent is unable to provide accurate information, consultation with the caregiver or with the patient’s physician may be required.