AWARENESS OF DENTISTS ABOUT ORAL HEALTH OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES.

Introduction: Children with disabilities are a unique group with impaired ability to cater for their own oral health and are in greater need of procedures for the prevention of oral diseases, due to the higher risk of their occurrence than in their non-disabled peers. Treating such children is difficult, it requires specific conditions and is time-consuming. Objective: The aim of our study was to evaluate the competence of dentists concerning the oral health and the specific treatment in children with disabilities. Material and methods: The study included 150 randomly selected dentists from the Sofia region of Bulgarian Dental Association. Their knowledge was assessed via anonymous questionnaire consisting of 18 items. Results: The results of the questionnaire revealed low level of competence on matters of children with disabilities, their special features and behavioral problems. These results raise the need of undertaking of emergency measures in creating step-by-step instruction programs aimed at all practicing dental medicine who have not undergone special training during their education