Page 129 - FINAL COMPENDIUM 2020-2021 27.2.2022

SPECIAL NEEDS DENTISTRY, HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW IT?

Ramasamy A, Adam L, Ting GS, Rich AM, Senthilkumar A

Objectives: The aims of this study were to describe the current perceptions of Special
Needs Dentistry (SND) among general dentists in New Zealand; and, to define the role of
the general dentist in the care of patients with special needs. Materials and methods: All
general dental practitioners in New Zealand were invited to complete an online survey.
All general dentists registered with the Dental Council New Zealand were included. The
exclusion criterion were Special Needs dentists and specialists. An analysis of the data was
performed using the SPSS for Windows version 25. Results: Findings were that 82.8% of
New Zealand general dentists have treated people with special needs, but only 7.7% of
general dentists reported they were very confident in treating people with special needs.
New Zealand general dentists who had undergraduate dental training with an SND
component comprised 49.2% of respondents. Lack of experience in treating people with
special needs was found to be the biggest barrier to care for those general dentists who
did not treat people with special needs. Conclusion: This study is the first to report on
perceptions of SND amongst general dentists in New Zealand. Results can be used to
inform improvements to how SND is taught in New Zealand. Initiatives to encourage more
general dentists to develop an interest in SND and have a positive attitude towards SND
would be beneficial to the community, hospitals, government authorities, and policy
makers. Such initiatives would lead to improvements in oral health care delivery for
people with special needs.

Arunadevi A/P Ramasamy
Special Care Dentistry Unit
Hospital Kajang
Kajang, Selangor
Ministry of Health Malaysia

Dr Lee Adam
Mr Ting, Graeme Stanley
Prof. Alison Mary Rich
Dr Arthi Senthilkumar
Faculty of Dentistry
University of Otago
Dunedin
New Zealand

105