Oral health behaviors of and parental barriers in providing oral care in young dental patients with autism spectrum disorder
Mohamed Rohani M, Ab-Murat N, Khalid NS and Baharozaman NF
Department of Paediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya
Department of Community Oral Health & Clinical Prevention, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya
Faculty of Dentistry, Unive
: Dent Health Curr Res
Abstract
Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) may have impaired communication and social relationships that give significant impact on their oral health behaviours and the provision of dental care to them. This cross-sectional mixed method study was conducted to assess the oral health behaviours of children with ASD attending Paediatric Dental Clinic and to explore parental barriers in providing dental care to their children with ASD. The quantitative part assessed the oral health behaviour of children with ASD through a parent-proxy report questionnaire. The qualitative part assessed parental barriers in providing dental care to their children through an indepth interview using semi-structured questions. Most samples were boys and between 5-8 years old. Majority had good oral health behaviours but some exhibited self-injurious behaviours that may affect their oral health. Severe characteristics of ASD, co-morbid conditions and incompetent health professional were reported by the parents when providing dental care to these children..
Biography
Maryani Mohamed Rohani has done B.D.S. from University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She has also done a special coursework on DClinDent (Special Needs Dentistry) from University of Melbourne, Australia. She was also the member of Malaysian Dental Association, from the year 2008 to 2009.
