Faisal Saad Al-Harbi^1,, Daij Hussain Al-Daiji¹

Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between dentist knowledge toward disability and the quality of dental care provided to disabled patients. Methods: This Cross sectional pilot study used a descriptive analytic method by using a survey and test the hypothesis. The study sample was recruited from dentists working and studying in al Qassim Region SAUDI ARABIA. A questionnaire survey was designed to find out the opinions of dentists concerning disabled patients, submitted to dentists and students in al Qassim region. The form was filled by approximately 100 dentists and 60 students. The questionnaire was distributed randomly, excluding dentists interested in disabled patients. The SPSS program was used to analyse the collected data. Results: Approximately 95% of the dentists think that the lack of required dentistry academic subjects regarding to disability affect the quality of oral health care of disabled patients. And approximately 90% of the students think that the lack of required dentistry academic subjects regarding to disability affect the quality of oral health care of disabled patients. The majority of doctors agree that the Absence of elective academic subjects concerning disability leads to misunderstanding to the treatment needs. Additionally, the study results showed that Mental (45%) and physical (44%) disabilities shown to be the most treated cases by dentists, however, psychological disabilities cases (3%) were reported as treated cases, as well as social disabilities cases (1%). The rest 7% of cases were reported as all kinds of disabilities. Conclusions: This research highlight that knowledge and communication skills can make dentists and dental students more willing to provide a high-quality oral health care to disabled patients and to reduce the difficulty of treating them.

dentists, knowledge, quality, oral health care giving, disabled, patients