PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Murshid, Ebtissam Z.
TI  - Dental knowledge of educators and healthcare providers working with children with autism spectrum disorders
AID  - 10.15537/smj.2015.12.12622
DP  - 2015 Dec 01
TA  - Saudi Medical Journal
PG  - 1477--1485
VI  - 36
IP  - 12
4099  - http://smj.org.sa/content/36/12/1477.short
4100  - http://smj.org.sa/content/36/12/1477.full
SO  - Saudi Med J2015 Dec 01; 36
AB  - Objectives: To evaluate dental knowledge and attitudes toward oral health care among healthcare providers and educators working with children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in central Saudi Arabia.Methods: There were 305 questionnaires distributed to 7 special-needs centers between September and November 2014. A total of 217 questionnaires were collected with a response rate of 71.1%. The study took place in the College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.Results: Approximately 50.2% of the participants did not offer any toothbrushing advice, and 73.3% never recommended dental checkup visits to parents, and 75.6% never performed dental examinations to children under their care. Ten percent thought that children should have their first dental visit after 6 years of age. Almost all participants agreed that children should practice oral hygiene, and 60.4% think they should brush twice per day. In general, the participants choose toothbrushes and toothpaste as the main tools to perform oral hygiene. There were 35% of participants who believed that parents should be responsible for the children’s oral hygiene, and a few participants mentioned teachers and therapists to be responsible. Most of the participants (71.4%) did not receive any dental information from dental professional resources, only 14.3% of participants believed bacteria to be the cause of dental cavities.Conclusion: There is a clear lack of dental knowledge and attitudes, and its practical application among the participating group of healthcare providers working with children with ASD in Riyadh.