Dentists’ Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Regarding Dental Care for Children with Special Healthcare Needs in Saudi Arabia (original) (raw)
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Assessment of pediatricians dental knowledge, attitude and behavior in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
The Journal of clinical pediatric dentistry, 2011
Early assessment of the oral health status of children has the potential to reduce or even eliminate oral diseases. Parents rarely take their children to dentist early enough to control dental diseases. However, parents contact pediatricians several times even before the child is born and during the child's early life. Accordingly, pediatricians are considered a perfect and reliable source for oral health control and prevention. To measure the dental knowledge, attitude and behavior (KAB) of pediatricians in the City of Jeddah regarding oral health status and methods for prevention of dental diseases in children. Questionnaires consisting of 40 demographic and KAB's questions were distributed to all pediatricians in Jeddah city (605 pediatricians). The KABs' questions consisted of general dental knowledge, preventive dental measures, timing for referral, diet counseling, parafunctional habits and handling of traumatized teeth. A score was given for each question. Percent...
Attitude of parents of disabled children towards dental visits in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Odonto-stomatologie tropicale = Tropical dental journal, 2007
The objective of the present study was to determine the attitude of parents of disabled children in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia towards dental visits. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the required information. A total of 315 parents, 70 (22.2%) fathers and 245 (77.8%) mothers completed the questionnaire. Almost all (99.0%) the parents were aware that regular dental check-ups are important in maintaining good dental health. Two-thirds (66.7%) of the parents were of the opinion that one must visit a dentist every six months for dental check-up; and some (17.8%) even every three months. However, 83 (26.3%) children had never visited a dentist. Only nine (2.8%) children had visited a dentist for first dental check-up by the age of three years. A significantly (p<0.05) higher percentage of parents with "secondary school or higher" education (69.7%) were of the opinion that one should visit a dentist every six months as compared to parents with "middle scho...
International Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry, 2021
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.
The Pattern of Dental Care Utilization Among Saudi School Children
Al-Azhar Dental Journal for Girls, 2021
Purpose: The current study was established to evaluate the utilization and determine types of dental services provided to Saudi school children. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed at Al Riyadh city, a sample of 5050 Saudi children of both genders with age range 6 - 9 years old was included. Dental caries was recorded according to WHO diagnostic criteria. Decayed, filled and missed teeth due to caries were recorded using dmft index, existing stainless-steel crowns and fissure sealants were recorded. Results: The prevalence of dental caries was 74.9% with caries experience of 3.22 ± 3.25 & 26.1% of the participants had pit and fissure sealant and 22.8% had stainless-steel crown. The care index was 37.4% for all children (34.7% for male and 38.6% for female), the restorative index was 44.2% (41.4% for male and 45.4% for female), the unmet treatment need index was 55.8% (58.6% for male and 54.6% for female). Conclusion: caries prevalence and severity were decre...
Introduction: Pediatric patients come to the dental office with visible fear and stress. However, it is also important to understand the level of stress the dental practitioner undergoes. This may vary on the basis of several factors of which the most important is the clinical experience. Materials and methods: This is a cross-sectional study, which utilized a closed-ended survey targeting general dental practitioners in Saudi Arabia. An electronic survey was constructed using Google forms and distributed using emails and social media applications. Results: Overall, no significant relationship was found when males were compared with females. Few survey questions were found to be statistically significant when compared on the basis of clinical experience. Conclusion: Confidence levels in treating a pediatric patient depend on the behavior and attitude. No comparison between males and females could be identified.
International Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry
Aim: The study aimed to explore dentist's perception of the oral health care toward child with special healthcare needs (CSHCN). Materials and methods: A total sample size of 250 was calculated. A 13-item validated questionnaire containing four domains were distributed among the participants. Descriptive analysis was used followed by one-way analysis of variance for comparison. Results: The results showed 51.54% confidence, 71.33% knowledge, and 66.90% perception among the participants. A statistically significant results were found between three domains (p value < 0.0001). Conclusion: The study concludes that there is a need to raise the level of knowledge and awareness about the oral health care of CSHCN among the dental students and professionals.
First dental visit: Age, reason, and experiences of Saudi children
European Journal of Dentistry, 2018
Objective: A study was conducted among parents/guardians of children attending the Outpatient Department of King Khalid University College of Dentistry, Abha, to assess the attitude and knowledge regarding children's first dental visit and related aspects. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted among a convenient sample of 320 parents/guardians. All the parents/guardians willing to participate in the study and whose children visiting the dentist for the first time were included in the study. Children's behavior was assessed using Frankl's scale. Results: Majority (29%) of the children visited the dentist for the first time at the age of 3–6 years, while the least percentage (8%) visited the dentist for the first time at the age of 0–1 year. A statistically significant difference was found between the responses (P ≤ 0.05). Most (72.67%) of the children were being accompanied by parents during their first dental visit. About 40.33%...
Journal of Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences, 2020
BACKGROUND The appropriate timing of first dental visit has an influence on child's oral health care and determines the effectiveness of preventive dental care rendered. The present study assesses the attitudes and practices of parents / guardians as well as dentists / paediatric dentists towards the first dental visit of children and evaluate as to whether there is any difference in their perception. METHODS 151 parents, 101 general dentists, and 53 paediatric dentists, were selected randomly from government and private institutions or hospitals across Saudi Arabia. Two separate close-ended, multiple-choice questionnaires were directed to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practice of parents / guardians as well as general / paediatric dentists towards their child's first dental visit. Chi square test was used to find the association of variables. RESULTS Most parents preferred to take their children for first dental visit between 3 to 6 years, for the reason of pain (31.8 %) or prevention of caries (31.8 %). 98 % of parents were happy with their child's first dental visit and 84.8 % would surely go for follow-up visits for treatment. 86.8 % of paediatric dentists recommended first dental visit within 6 years of age when compared to 52.4 % of general dentists [p = 0.001]. Paediatric dentists were more frequently recording general health / growth, performing extra-oral & intra-oral examinations and evaluating developingdentition, when compared to general dentists [p = 0.001]. CONCLUSIONS There is an urgent need for the general dental practitioners as well as paediatric dentists to educate and motivate the parents regarding the first dental visit and its objectives.
Knowledge and attitude of Saudi mothers towards their preschool children’s oral health
Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, 2014
ABSTARCT Objectives: To determine knowledge and attitude of Saudi mothers towards their preschool children's oral health. Methods: One hundred and one mothers (of children aged 16 to 40 months) attending well-baby clinics at Security Forces Hospital Polyclinics in Makkah Al-Mukarrama participated in the study. A questionnaire was used to collect the required information. Results: A great majority (92.1%) of the mothers agreed that "baby teeth are important for child's general health. Similarly, 90.1% of the mothers agreed that "using fluoridated toothpaste helps to prevent tooth decay". About four in every ten mothers (43.6%) agreed that a child should be allowed to use a bottle atwill when he/she becomes able to hold it. More than half of the mothers (54.5%) agreed that letting baby sleep with bottle still in the mouth was of no harm to teeth. A significantly (p=0.04) higher percentage of high Socioeconomic status (SES) mothers as compared to middle SES mothers (85.9% versus 55.6%) agreed that "frequent feeding with milk or milk formula is of no harm to baby's teeth". A significantly (p=003) higher percentage of the middle SES mothers as compared to high SES mothers (66.7% versus 17.4%) agreed that a child should only visit a dentist in case of a dental pain/problem.
International journal of science and healthcare research, 2022
Aim: To assess the awareness and knowledge regarding treatment and management of child with special health care needs among dental professionals in India Methods: A multiple choice electronic survey was sent to dentists of India. The data obtained was subjected to descriptive analysis Results: Majority of the dentists have witnessed a special child in their clinical practice but are not always able to determine the syndrome associated based on the symptoms, hence the child is further referred to a paediatric dentist Conclusion: Although awareness regarding a special child is considerably high amongst the Indian dentists, there remains a need to improvise the facilities for better treatment of these children.