Download PDF
CC BY 4.0 · European Journal of General Dentistry
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1809299
Original Article

Challenges in Accessing Dental Care for Special Care Populations in Jazan, Saudi Arabia: A Study among Health Professionals and Caregivers

Mohammed Najmuddin
1   Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
,
Yaser Ali Alhazmi
2   Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
,
Safeena Abdul Khader Saheb
3   Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
,
Wafa Hadi Alfaifi
4   Tadawi Dent-Jazan, Jazan, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
,
Sara Abdulhamid Sori
4   Tadawi Dent-Jazan, Jazan, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
,
Shreefah M. Faris
4   Tadawi Dent-Jazan, Jazan, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
,
Hemant Ramesh Chourasia 
5   Division of Endodontics, Department of Restorative Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
,
Amit Porwal 
6   Department of Prosthetic Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
,
Ankur Jethlia 
7   Division of Diagnostic, Department of Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
,
Sheetal Mujoo
1   Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
,
Mohammed Wahajuddin
8   Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Al Badar Rural Dental, Dental College and Hospital, Kalaburagi, Karnataka, India
› Author Affiliations
Funding None.
› Further Information
Also available at
  Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Objective

Those with disabilities lack access to adequate dental health care services that are fundamental for maintaining their oral health. The study was primarily conducted to identify the actual barriers to dental care services for disabled patients. The study aimed to find the perfect solution capable of addressing the problems encountered by both dental practitioners and disabled patients.

Materials and Methods

The present cross-sectional study was performed on 160 study subjects, 100 including parents and patients and 60 dental professionals including consultants, dental practitioners, interns, and dental undergraduate students, by using two self-administered structured questionnaires for both groups. The demographic variables and any information by parents and dental professionals that might be helpful in managing the treatment of disabled children were recorded. The data obtained was subjected to statistical analysis using IBM SPSS version 20.0 software.

Results

Note that 56.7% of the dental professionals who participated in the study were dental interns in the age group of 20 to 25 years belonging to the Saudi region. Majority of these dental professionals treated disabled children during their dental practice and even acquired specialized training for their management. While a majority of the hospitals comprise of renowned facilities for managing disabled children, right from parking facilities to wheelchairs, most of them lack special facilities like signboards, special toilets, adequate equipment, trained associates, pharmacy, etc. Most of the parents of these disabled children come from rural areas having only secondary education levels. A majority of the patients were physically disabled and suffered from dental problems, the most prevalent one being dental caries. Most parents discovered that the brushing methodology contributed to such dental problems. Few parents blamed the unavailability of equipment as a barrier to getting treated. Most parents were worried constantly over treatment costs and were fearful to get treated.

Conclusion

Despite dental care provided to parents and caregivers of disabled individuals, it is our observation that the numbers are still inadequate in the Jazan region, Saudi Arabia. The most common barriers for this include treatment cost and the constant fear of getting the dental treatment done by a dental care provider.

Keywords

care provider - dental care - obstacles - oral health - special needs


Publication History

Article published online:
17 June 2025

© 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
A-12, 2nd Floor, Sector 2, Noida-201301 UP, India

 

  • References

  • 1 American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Management of dental patients with special health care needs. In: The Reference Manual of Pediatric Dentistry. Chicago, IL: American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry; 2021: 287-294
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 2 Holder M, Waldman HB, Hood H. Preparing health professionals to provide care to individuals with disabilities. Int J Oral Sci 2009; 1 (02) 66-71
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 3 Waldman HB, Al-Nowaiser AM, Hamed MT, Perlman SP. Dentistry for individuals with special needs in Saudi Arabia: a commentary. J Disabil Oral Health. 2010; 11 (02) 57
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 4 American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Definition of special health care needs. In: The Reference Manual of Pediatric Dentistry. Chicago, IL: American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry; 2021: 19
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 5 Iida H, Lewis C, Zhou C, Novak L, Grembowski D. Dental care needs, use and expenditures among U.S. children with and without special health care needs. J Am Dent Assoc 2010; 141 (01) 79-88
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 6 Mayer ML, Skinner AC, Slifkin RT. National Survey of Children With Special Health Care Needs. Unmet need for routine and specialty care: data from the National Survey of Children With Special Health Care Needs. Pediatrics 2004; 113 (02) e109-e115
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 7 Norwood Jr KW, Slayton RL. Council on Children With Disabilities, Section on Oral Health. Oral health care for children with developmental disabilities. Pediatrics 2013; 131 (03) 614-619
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 8 Liu Z, Yu D, Luo W. et al. Impact of oral health behaviors on dental caries in children with intellectual disabilities in Guangzhou, China. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2014; 11 (10) 11015-11027
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 9 Bakry NS, Alaki SM. Risk factors associated with caries experience in children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities. J Clin Pediatr Dent 2012; 36 (03) 319-323
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 10 Marcelino G, Parrilha VA. Education in dental health for disabled children's mothers: a space for nursing practioners [in Portuguese]. Cogitare Enferm 2007; 12 (01) 37-43
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 11 Barros RMCS, Possobon RF, Melo EA. et al. Influence of the quality of life and locus of control of mothers of disabled children on the oral health of their children. Spec Care Dentist 2017; 37 (06) 290-298
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 12 Alumran A, Almulhim L, Almolhim B, Bakodah S, Aldossary H, Alakrawi Z. Preparedness and willingness of dental care providers to treat patients with special needs. Clin Cosmet Investig Dent 2018; 10: 231-236
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 13 Al-Shehri SAM. Access to dental care for persons with disabilities in Saudi Arabia (caregivers' perspective). J Disabil Oral Health. 2012; 13 (02) 51-61
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 14 Gambhir RS, Brar P, Singh G, Sofat A, Kakar H. Utilization of dental care: an Indian outlook. J Nat Sci Biol Med 2013; 4 (02) 292-297
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 15 Al Agili DE, Roseman J, Pass MA, Thornton JB, Chavers LS. Access to dental care in Alabama for children with special needs: parents' perspectives. J Am Dent Assoc 2004; 135 (04) 490-495
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 16 Fotedar S, Sharma KR, Bhardwaj V. Barriers to the utilization of dental services in Shimla, India. Eur J Gen Dent 2013; 2: 139-143
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 17 Bhaskar VB, Janakiram C, Joseph J. Access to dental care among differently disabled children in Kochi. J Indian Assoc Public Health Dent 2016; 14: 29-34
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 18 Purohit BM, Singh A. Oral health status of 12-year-old children with disabilities and controls in Southern India. WHO South-East Asia J Public Health 2012; 1 (03) 330-338
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 19 Kenney MK, Kogan MD, Crall JJ. Parental perceptions of dental/oral health among children with and without special health care needs. Ambul Pediatr 2008; 8 (05) 312-320
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 20 Onyejaka NK, Folayan MO, Folaranmi N. Barriers and facilitators of dental service utilization by children aged 8 to 11 years in Enugu State, Nigeria. BMC Health Serv Res 2016; 16: 93
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 21 Busato P, Garbín RR, Santos CN, Paranhos LR, Rigo L. Influence of maternal anxiety on child anxiety during dental care: cross-sectional study. Sao Paulo Med J 2017; 135 (02) 116-122
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar