{"title":"Comparative Analysis of Dental Treatment for Children With and Without Special Healthcare Needs at Academic Dental Hospitals in South Africa.","authors":"Nancy Njoroge, Phumzile Hlongwa, Ansuyah Magan","doi":"10.1111/ipd.13295","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Children with special healthcare needs (CSHCN) experience higher unmet dental treatment needs than their healthy peers (NSHCN).</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>We compared dental treatment received by CSHCN and NSHCN at academic dental hospitals in South Africa (SA).</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>Clinical records of 1-16-year-old children who had dental treatment under general anaesthetic (GA) between 2017 and 2023 were reviewed. Descriptive analyses were performed, and the Chi-square/Fisher's exact test used to analyse the categorical variables.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Four hundred records (CSHCN: 116 [29%] and NSHCN: 284 [71%]) were analysed. The median age at assessment was 5 years (IQR: 3-6.5). CSHCN were older than NSHCN, (p < 0.001). More CSHCN (52.6%) than NSHCN (25.4%) were referred from primary health centres, (p < 0.001). Caries was the main dental diagnosis. Multiple extractions were done in 54.7% of CSHCN < 6 years and 52.8% of 6-11-year-old NSHCN. Restorative treatment was performed in 26.1% of 6-11-year-old CSHCN and 27.2% of NSHCN < 6 years.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Most of the CSHCN and NSHCN who needed GA were young with extensive caries. Treatment provided to both groups was primarily extractions, perhaps due to late presentation and limited resources. Timely preventative strategies for children at risk of caries could enhance oral health and reduce the burden of GA in SA.</p>","PeriodicalId":14268,"journal":{"name":"International journal of paediatric dentistry","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3000,"publicationDate":"2025-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"International journal of paediatric dentistry","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1111/ipd.13295","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"DENTISTRY, ORAL SURGERY & MEDICINE","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Children with special healthcare needs (CSHCN) experience higher unmet dental treatment needs than their healthy peers (NSHCN).
Aim: We compared dental treatment received by CSHCN and NSHCN at academic dental hospitals in South Africa (SA).
Design: Clinical records of 1-16-year-old children who had dental treatment under general anaesthetic (GA) between 2017 and 2023 were reviewed. Descriptive analyses were performed, and the Chi-square/Fisher's exact test used to analyse the categorical variables.
Results: Four hundred records (CSHCN: 116 [29%] and NSHCN: 284 [71%]) were analysed. The median age at assessment was 5 years (IQR: 3-6.5). CSHCN were older than NSHCN, (p < 0.001). More CSHCN (52.6%) than NSHCN (25.4%) were referred from primary health centres, (p < 0.001). Caries was the main dental diagnosis. Multiple extractions were done in 54.7% of CSHCN < 6 years and 52.8% of 6-11-year-old NSHCN. Restorative treatment was performed in 26.1% of 6-11-year-old CSHCN and 27.2% of NSHCN < 6 years.
Conclusions: Most of the CSHCN and NSHCN who needed GA were young with extensive caries. Treatment provided to both groups was primarily extractions, perhaps due to late presentation and limited resources. Timely preventative strategies for children at risk of caries could enhance oral health and reduce the burden of GA in SA.
期刊介绍:
The International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry was formed in 1991 by the merger of the Journals of the International Association of Paediatric Dentistry and the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry and is published bi-monthly. It has true international scope and aims to promote the highest standard of education, practice and research in paediatric dentistry world-wide.
International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry publishes papers on all aspects of paediatric dentistry including: growth and development, behaviour management, diagnosis, prevention, restorative treatment and issue relating to medically compromised children or those with disabilities. This peer-reviewed journal features scientific articles, reviews, case reports, clinical techniques, short communications and abstracts of current paediatric dental research. Analytical studies with a scientific novelty value are preferred to descriptive studies. Case reports illustrating unusual conditions and clinically relevant observations are acceptable but must be of sufficiently high quality to be considered for publication; particularly the illustrative material must be of the highest quality.