ArticleFrontiers in oral health2026
Access to dental care for children with special healthcare needs: general dentists' perspectives from the UAE.
Article in Frontiers in oral health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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6 authors.
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Abstract
Background: Children with special healthcare needs (SHCN) experience persistent disparities in access to oral healthcare. Despite legislative frameworks in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) supporting equitable care, provider-level barriers remain insufficiently characterized. Objective: To evaluate general dental practitioners' (GDPs) perceptions of barriers to delivering dental care to children with SHCN in the UAE and to examine associated demographic factors. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among GDPs licensed across the UAE health authorities using a structured questionnaire adapted from a previously validated instrument. Data were collected between January and July 2025 through professional email lists, social media, conferences, and professional networks. Because recruitment used open dissemination channels, the total number of dentists who received or viewed the invitation could not be determined, and a conventional response rate could not be calculated. Descriptive statistics and exploratory subgroup analyses were used to summarize responses and examine associations. Results: A total of 206 GDPs participated. The most commonly reported barriers were patient-related behavioral challenges (53.4%) and insufficient practitioner training (52.9%), followed by communication difficulties (45.1%). Although most respondents reported that their clinics were physically accessible (86.4%), a majority indicated inadequate equipment (58.3%). Only 43.2% were aware of national legislation supporting individuals with disabilities. GDPs reported greater confidence in providing preventive and routine care compared to more complex procedures. Conclusion: UAE GDPs reported multiple
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