Assessment of dental care in children with disability – a sociomedical study of parents/guardians

Abstract

Introduction. The care of a child with a disability is associated with difficulties in many areas of life, including comprehensive medical care. Aim. The aim of the sociomedical study was to assess the level of dental care provided to children with disability based on the data from a questionnaire study performed in their parents/guardians. Material and methods. The research was conducted among 200 parents/guardians of disabled and/or chronically ill children living in Poznań and Białystok. Information on the frequency of dental visits and their causes, access to dental offices as well as the course of treatment, particularly in primary teeth, was collected. The study was approved by the Committee of Bioethics of the Poznan University of Medical Sciences (Resolution No. 159/17) as well as the directors of institutions and parents/guardians. Results. The data obtained showed that up to 18.50% of children with disability had never been to a dentist. The most common reasons for a dental visit were changes within a tooth noticed by a parent (25.50%) or a dental check-up (25.00%). Thirty-six children (18.00%) experienced a few episodes of dental pain, whereas 47.00% of children had never received dental treatment of primary teeth. Only 67.50% of respondents reported no access barriers to dental treatment. Up to 51.50% of parents/guardians reported that there was currently no need for dental treatment in their children. Conclusions. The data presented show that there is insufficient dental care for children with disability, which is probably due to inadequate education of their parents/guardians, in relation to the care of oral health in children. The study also indicates the presence of obstacles in access to dental treatment, such as architectural or financial barriers as well as problems in access to dental care in the place of residence.