Background: Oral health is essential for children's overall well-being and predictive of their future health. This importance is widely recognized for typically developing children, but those with special needs face unique challenges that require tailored care. This study aims to assess the oral health status and practices of normal children with those of special children.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted over ten months, in Chennai, India. The study included 180 participants, comprising equal numbers of normal and special children. Data on demographics, oral health status were collected using questionnaires and oral screenings. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics and relevant statistical tests.

Results: The study revealed significant disparities in self-reported oral health perceptions, toothbrush practices, toothpaste usage, and dental awareness between normal and special children. Special children, more frequently rating their oral health as "fair," face unique challenges, emphasizing the need for tailored oral health education, improved access to dental care products, and effective patient communication during dental visits.

Conclusion: The research underscores the importance of recognizing the distinct oral health challenges faced by special children. It highlights the need for tailored oral health education, improved access to dental care products, and more effective patient communication during dental visits. These steps are crucial to enhance the lifelong oral health and overall well-being of special children and provide comprehensive, accessible oral health education programs to address their specific needs.