Evaluation of Parents' Perceptions of the Dental and Oral Health in Children with Disability in the Bandung City

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Children with disability have a risk of poor dental health because of their mental and physical limitations. They depend on caregivers in their daily life Parents have an important role in maintaining children's dental health. Parents attitudes can be influenced by parents’ perceptions of children's dental health. This study explored parental perceptions regarding the dental and oral health of children with special needs in Bandung City. METHODS: This study utilized a descriptive observational research using a cross-sectional survey. The subjects in this study were 239 parents who had children aged 0–18 years who were taken from 9 special schools. The variables of this study were parents' perceptions and the dental and oral health status of children with disability. Primary data were obtained through a validated questionnaire. RESULTS: Parents' perceptions of the dental and oral health of children with disability consists of 84.94% good enough perceptions, 12.13% good perceptions, and 2.93% bad perceptions. CONCLUSION: Most parents have a fairly good perception of the dental and oral health of children with special needs.