International Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry

Register      Login

VOLUME 14 , ISSUE 5 ( September-October, 2021 ) > List of Articles

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Awareness and Attitude of General and Specialist Dentists in Providing Oral Health-related Quality of Life for Children with Special Healthcare Needs

Konda Suhasini, Rodda Rajashekhar, Jampanapalli Sharada Reddy, Inguva Hemachandrika

Citation Information : Suhasini K, Rajashekhar R, Reddy JS, Hemachandrika I. Awareness and Attitude of General and Specialist Dentists in Providing Oral Health-related Quality of Life for Children with Special Healthcare Needs. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2021; 14 (5):601-603.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10005-1968

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 20-11-2021

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2021; The Author(s).


Abstract

Special healthcare needs children (SHCNC) requires specialized knowledge acquired by additional training, as well as increased awareness and accommodative measures on part of general practitioners and specialist dentists beyond what is considered routine. Most dentists face challenges in treating these children, due to lack of awareness and insufficient training regarding the management of such children in a dental operatory. Aim and objective: This study was undertaken to investigate the awareness, practices, and hurdles faced by general dentists and dentists of various specialties in providing oral healthcare to children with special healthcare needs. Materials and methods: The study was conducted in dental colleges and private dental clinics in and around Hyderabad. General dentists and dentists of various specialties were assessed through a structured questionnaire. Statistical analysis: The data obtained were analyzed with a Chi-square test (SPSS Version - 20). Results: The study showed that 80% of the dentists were willing to treat these children, but lack of sufficient training has been the major hurdle in the management of these children. Conclusion: The training of dentists in taking care of children with special healthcare needs should be enhanced to provide comprehensive dental care to these children, thereby enabling them to realize their normal level of functioning and lengthening their life span.


HTML PDF Share
  1. Halberg U, Strandmark M, Klingberg G. ‘Dental health professionals’ treatment of children with disabilities: a qualitative study. Acta Odontol Scand 2004;62(6):319–327. DOI: 10.1080/00016350410001810.
  2. Halberg U, Klingsberg G. Medical health care professionals’ assessments of oral health needs in children with disabilities: a qualitative study. Eur J Oral Sci 2005;113(5):363–368. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0722.2005.00238.x.
  3. Owens BL, Kirker BD, Zigler E, et al. Vision and oral health needs of individuals with an intellectual disability. Ment Retard Dev Disabilit Res Rev 2006;12(1):28–40. DOI: 10.1002/mrdd.20096.
  4. Nunn JH. The burden of oral ill health for children. Archives Dis Childhood 2006;91(3):251–253. DOI: 10.1136/adc.2005.077016.
  5. Hart JT. The inverse care law. Lancet 1971;1(7696):405–412. DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(71)92410-x.
  6. Nunn JH, Murray JJ. Dental care of handicapped children by general dental practitioners. J Dent Heal Edu 1998;52(8):463–465. DOI: 10.1002/j.0022-0337.1988.52.8.tb02220.x.
  7. Baird WO, Grother MC, Abrams KR, et al. Access to dental services for people with a physical disability: a survey of general dental practitioners in Leicestershire, UK. Community Dent Heal 2008;25(4):248–252.
  8. Priyadarshini B, Lin CN, Umesh B, et al. Dental treatment of special needs patients: dentists point of view in selected cities of Malaysia. Biomed Res 2015;26(1):152–156.
  9. Rao D, Amitha H, Munshi AK. Oral hygiene status of disabled children and adolescents attending special schools of South Canara, India. Hong Kong Dent J 2005;2:107–112.
  10. Dao LP, Zwetchkenbaum S, Inglehart MR. General dentists & special needs patients. Does dental education matters? J Dent Educ 2005;69(10):1107–1115. DOI: 10.1002/j.0022-0337.2005.69.10.tb04011.x.
  11. Milano M, Seybold SV. Dental care for special needs patients: a survey of Texas pediatric dentists. ASDC J Dent Child 2002;69(2):212–215.
PDF Share
PDF Share

© Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) LTD.