AlSarheed, Maha Abdullah; (2001) Barriers towards the provision of orthodontic treatment for visual or hearing impaired children in Saudi Arabia (Riyadh). Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL.

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Abstract

Anecdotal evidence exists that children with sensory impairments (SI) are being disadvantaged in accessing dental care and in particular orthodontic treatment. The aims of this dissertation were, first, to develop tools to assess, for visually impaired (VI) children, their orthodontic treatment need based on the aesthetic component (AC) of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN). Second, to explore barriers to orthodontic treatment for SI children (11-16 years old) in Riyadh, by determining the oral health status, orthodontic treatment need, attitude of parents, as well as the attitudes of the dental profession and undergraduate dental students to the provision of dental treatment for these groups. With respect to the first aim, tactile graphics were produced and approved by a panel of 9 experts and 13 VI children. With regard to oral health status, there was no difference between the SI children and control group in caries prevalence, enamel defects and malocclusion although, higher levels of gingivitis and incisor trauma existed in hearing impaired (HI) children. No significant difference could be found between the three groups in treatment need based on the dental health component of IOTN (27.3% of VI, 30% of HI and 22.4% of control). However, for the AC, VI (55.8%) children rated a higher treatment need compared to the control (39.4%) and HI (43%) children. Control (81.3%) and HI (78.2%) children rated themselves as I (most attractive) more than VI (35%) children. Overall, dentist's attitudes toward SI people were positive, but HI children were viewed more positively than VI. The general belief was HI children would be more dentally conscious, cope better with orthodontic treatment, and have better oral hygiene. The fifth year dental students were marginal more positive toward SI people than third year students and that was related to their satisfaction to their educational curriculum.

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