The age and primary reason for the first dental visit in children with special health care needs.

Abstract

To evaluate the average age and primary reason for the first dental visit among patients with special health care needs (SHCN) as well as to examine barriers related to accessing care for children with special health care needs. This is a cross-sectional survey that was distributed to caregivers of children with special health care needs (CSHCN). Study data was collected through REDCap, a secure web-based survey application. A total of 75 caregivers participated in the survey. Only 13% of caregivers reported that their child was less than 1 by the time of their first dental visit. Nearly all reported seeing a pediatric dentist for their first visit (89%) and that it was for a routine exam and cleaning (83%). About one-third of guardians reported an experience where a dentist was unable to care for their child due to their SHCN (36%). It appears that caregivers of CSHCN that participated in this survey have established routine care with a pediatric dentist at an early age. It is important to continue to educate caregivers on the importance of routine care as well as support general dentists in their role of caring for patients with SHCN.