Papers by Dr.Faris Yahya I Asiri
SpecialCareinDentistry, 2025
Objectives: To assess parents' perceived oral health status, oral hygiene behaviors, and dental c... more Objectives: To assess parents' perceived oral health status, oral hygiene behaviors, and dental care for their children with visual impairments (VI). Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among parents of students with VI attending special schools in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. Convenience sampling was used to recruit the participants. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive and analytical statistics were used for data analysis. Results: Seventy-seven parents completed the survey (response rate: 63.6%). Most children were aged 6-11 years (38.9%). Tooth brushing varied: 16.9% brushed at least twice a day; 40.2% brushed irregularly; 7.8% flossed regularly; and 49.3% consumed sweets once or twice a day. Parents' perceptions of their children's oral health were as follows: positive, 61.0%; fair or poor, 39.0%. A significant association was found between sweets intake frequency and perceived oral health status (p = 0.035). Many of the children had not visited a dentist for over a year (29.9%) or had never visited one (25.9%). Conclusion: There is a need to enhance oral health promotion and dental care access for students with VI. A collaborative approach involving teachers, parents, and dental professionals is recommended to support their oral health needs. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.
Oral health of individuals with cerebral palsy in Saudi Arabia: A systematic review
Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, Oct 18, 2023
Healthcare, 2024
Background: Oral health is a critical component of overall well-being. However, students with dis... more Background: Oral health is a critical component of overall well-being. However, students with disabilities (SWDs) face unique challenges in maintaining oral hygiene and accessing dental care. This study aims to explore oral health behaviours, dental care utilisation, and barriers to accessing dental care among SWDs in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, from the perspectives of their parents. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among parents of SWDs in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire covering oral health behaviours, dental care utilisation, and barriers to care. The sample size was determined based on the SWDs population in the region. Data were analysed using descriptive and analytical statistics, with significant associations identified at p < 0.05. Results: Findings revealed that 45.7% of SWDs brushed irregularly, with only 16.8% brushing twice a day or more. Dental flossing was reported by just 4.3% of SWDs. Emergency-based dental visits were common (51.9%), and 29.5% of SWDs had never visited a dentist. Significant associations were found between maternal education and tooth brushing frequency (p = 0.004) and between parental education and the frequency of dental visits (p = 0.035). The most reported barriers included fear of treatment (47.1%), difficulty finding willing dentists (45.5%), and long wait times for appointments (44.7%). Conclusions: The study emphasises the pressing need for targeted interventions to improve oral hygiene practices and enhance accessibility to dental services for SWDs.
Elsevier, 2024
Abstract
Background: Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often face challenges in ma... more Abstract
Background: Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often face challenges in maintaining good oral health, because of factors including sensory sensitivities, communication difficulties, and microbial imbalances in the oral cavity. Despite growing awareness of ASD, both in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and globally, no systematic review has comprehensively assessed the ef effects of ASD on oral health status in KSA.
Objective: This study was aimed at assessing whether the oral health of individuals with ASD in KSA might differ from that of neurotypical individuals, on the basis of a systematic review framework.
Materials and methods: According to the Participants, Exposure, Comparison, and Outcome (PICO) frame- work, a systematic search of electronic databases was conducted, and screening was independently performed by two reviewers. Conflicts were resolved through dis-cussion. Data on study characteristics and oral health findings were independently extracted by the two re- viewers. The risk of bias was assessed with the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist for Analytical Cross-Sectional Studies.
Results: Of 763 initially identified articles, 14 met the inclusion criteria. These studies indicated that children with ASD have a higher prevalence of dental caries, greater gingival inflammation, and a greater risk of dental trauma than their neurotypical peers. Parents of children with ASD showed elevated concern regarding their children’s oral health.
Conclusion: Training dental professionals to manage patients with ASD is essential. Further research with larger sample sizes and rigorous methods is necessary to enhance understanding of the relationship between ASD and oral health outcomes in KSA.
Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; Dental diseases; KSA; Oral health; Oral-health-related quality of life
nternational Journal of Paediatric Dentistry , 2024
Abstract
Background: Dental caries is prevalent among children, including those with disabilities... more Abstract
Background: Dental caries is prevalent among children, including those with disabilities. Although the World Health Organization recommends school-based oral health promotion (OHP) programmes involving teachers, limited research has explored teachers' roles and perspectives.
Aim: To assess special education teachers' involvement and difficulties regarding oral health education (OHE), attitudes towards OHP and barriers to oral health- care access for students with disabilities (SWDs).
Design: This descriptive cross-sectional study, conducted in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, involved 264 special education teachers using a validated, self- administered questionnaire, and descriptive and analytical statistics were used for data analysis.
Results: Only 39% of teachers incorporated OHE into their teaching, and just 20.8% received training for OHE delivery. Teachers showed strong support for integrating OHE into the curriculum (84.1%) and a no-sugar policy (78%). There was, however, less support for school-based toothbrushing (39%). OHE barriers included insufficient resources (56.1%), limited knowledge (29.2%) and miscon- ceptions about primary teeth removal (47.4%). The three most common barriers to oral healthcare access were extended waiting lists (75.0%), long waiting times (73.1%) and fear of dental equipment (67.4%).
Conclusion: This study highlights the need for collaboration between health- care professionals, educators and parents to enhance OHE and reinforce OHP for SWDs within special education and beyond.
Medicina , 2024
Background and Objectives: In Saudi Arabia, persons with disabilities (PWDs) face considerable or... more Background and Objectives: In Saudi Arabia, persons with disabilities (PWDs) face considerable oral health challenges, including a higher prevalence of dental caries and gingival inflammation, which adversely affects their oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). This population experiences distinct and substantial barriers in accessing adequate dental care. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to quantify disparities in OHRQoL between PWDs and individuals without disabilities in Saudi Arabia, focusing on caries and gingivitis prevalence, and to identify specific areas for intervention. Materials and Methods: A structured search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar yielded 803 articles, of which seven met the inclusion criteria. These studies reported on OHRQoL and oral health outcomes in populations with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and hearing impairments. Data on caries rates, gingival health, and self- or caregiver-reported quality of life were extracted and analysed. Results: PWDs in Saudi Arabia exhibit significantly higher caries prevalence (ranging from 60% to over 80%) and moderate-to-severe gingival inflammation (up to 60%) compared to individuals without disabilities. The caregivers of children with disabilities reported heightened stress levels, and PWDs experienced reduced functional and social well-being. These disparities were compounded by limited preventive care access and high unmet treatment needs, particularly among those with severe disabilities and limited caregiver support. Conclusions: PWDs in Saudi Arabia face marked oral health disparities, with notably higher rates of dental caries and gingivitis, severely impacting their quality of life. The findings underscore the need for targeted oral health policies and community-based interventions to enhance care accessibility, promote preventive measures, and address the unique needs of this vulnerable population.
Community Dent Health, 2024
Background: Nearly one billion individuals globally live with disabilities, facing greater risk o... more Background: Nearly one billion individuals globally live with disabilities, facing greater risk of dental issues. Systematic reviews have identified barriers to oral health care for persons with disabilities (PWDs), but a comprehensive synthesis to inform health-policy guidelines is lacking. This overview addresses this gap by summarizing the key barriers to oral health care access for PWDs.
Objectives: (1) summarize key findings on the barriers PWDs encounter in seeking dental and oral healthcare, (2) evaluate the influence of disabilities on accessibility to dental and oral health services, and (3) identify facilitators to improve access and inform future health policy.
Methods: Systematic review of systematic reviews of both cross-sectional and evaluative studies that identified barriers to oral health care access for PWDs. A comprehensive search of databases was conducted from inception to 24 February 2024, using specific keywords and Boolean operators. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed using AMSTAR 2 to ensure transparency and reliability.
Results: Five systematic reviews were included. These reviews highlighted financial constraints, provider reluctance, access difficulties, systemic barriers, and patient-related factors as major obstacles. Methodological variations across reviews were noted, affecting the transparency and reliability of findings.
Conclusion: Barriers to oral health care access for PWDs include financial, provider-related, access-related, systemic, and patient-related factors. Addressing these barriers, particularly in developing countries, should be a priority for future research and interventions.
Keywords: access to dental care; barriers to access; health disparities; oral health care; persons with disabilities.
Evaluation of efficacy of a commercially available herbal mouthwash on dental plaque and gingivitis: A double-blinded parallel randomized controlled trial
Journal of Indian Association of Public Health Dentistry, 2015
Aim: To evaluate if a commercially available herbal mouthwash, can be a better choice as an anti-... more Aim: To evaluate if a commercially available herbal mouthwash, can be a better choice as an anti-plaque and antigingivitis agent when compared with chlorhexidine. Materials and Methods: In a double-blind, parallel group randomized clinical trial 90 nursing students aged 18-25 years were randomly divided into three groups: A (chlorhexidine), B (HiOra) and C (distilled water). These groups were asked to rinse with their respective mouthwash two times daily for 21 days. Plaque and gingivitis were evaluated by using Turesky et al. modification of Quigley Hein Plaque Index (1970) and Modified Gingival Index by Lobene et al. (1986) respectively. Statistical analysis was done using ANOVA test. Results: There was statistically significant reduction in plaque and gingival scores from baseline to 21 days in both the groups A and B. Conclusions: Although chlorhexidine group proved to be the best anti-plaque and antigingivitis agent, it was found that HiOra group also showed gradual improvement from baseline to 21 days. Whereas no improvement was seen in the Group C using distilled water over 21 days.
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW, 2023
Abstract
Objective
This systematic review aimed to comprehensively summarize and critically asse... more Abstract
Objective
This systematic review aimed to comprehensively summarize and critically assess studies conducted on oral health outcomes among individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) in Saudi Arabia.
Methods
This study followed the Participants, Exposure, Control and Outcomes (PECO) framework to formulate a focused research question. We conducted an extensive literature search across multiple databases, including PubMed, Medline, Scopus and Embase, in addition to clinical trial registers. Inclusion criteria encompassed clinical studies conducted in either English or Arabic, focusing on CP as defined by the International Classification of Diseases 10 (ICD10), and examining various oral health conditions and parameters. Nonclinical studies, commentaries, other systematic reviews and letters to the editor were excluded. Data extraction included comprehensive information about the study characteristics, oral health outcomes (dental, oral or periodontal disease; changes in standardized indices; dental trauma and other types of oral diseases) and an assessment of the risk of bias using the Appraisal Tool for Cross-Sectional Studies (AXIS).
Results
The initial search yielded a total of 879 articles, ultimately resulting seven studies that met our stringent inclusion criteria. All of these studies were conducted as cross-sectional investigations in different cities within Saudi Arabia. The sample sizes ranged from 46 to 400 participants, all falling within the age range of 2–18 years. Notably, the prevalence of dental caries among individuals with CP in these studies varied significantly, with rates ranging from 52.9% to as high as 98.6%. Additionally, a substantial portion of CP patients exhibited poor oral hygiene, with figures ranging between 34.6% and 66.2%, and dental trauma was reported in 47.5% of the cases. Moreover, these studies underscored the influence of motor function and intellectual disabilities on the oral health status of CP individuals. Furthermore, various secondary outcomes, including periodontal parameters and oral health-related quality of life, were also assessed. However, it is essential to acknowledge that several sources of bias were identified within these studies, raising questions about the generalisability of their findings.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the systematic review revealed a concerning pattern of high dental caries prevalence and other oral health issues among individuals with CP in Saudi Arabia. Nevertheless, the need for comparative studies between CP patients and those without CP is evident to establish a definitive understanding of the oral health status of CP individuals. Initiating early interventions such as oral hygiene education, preventive dentistry programs, and orthodontic interventions could potentially contribute to improved oral health outcomes for individuals with CP in Saudi Arabia.
Applied Sciences
Objective: The aim of this review is to summarize the effects of local and systemic PTH administr... more Objective: The aim of this review is to summarize the effects of local and systemic PTH administration on periodontal tissues during orthodontic tooth movement. Materials and methods: An electronic search was conducted on the following databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, SCOPUS and Embase. On PubMed/MEDLINE, the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) keywords used were: “orthodontic tooth movement” OR (“tooth” (All Fields) AND “tooth movement” (All Fields)) OR “tooth movement” (All Fields)) AND (“parathyroid hormone”); all studies included using CONSORT. Results: After elimination of duplicates and articles not meeting our inclusion criteria, seven animal studies were included in this review. Although the majority of the studies suggest that PTH may a have a favorable outcome on OTM, most studies were found to have several sources of bias. Conclusion: Animal studies with minimal bias and long-term clinical studies are needed to ascertain the efficacy of intermittent PTH administrati...
Journal of Oral Research, 2020
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has taken the world by storm, with cases continuously increasin... more Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has taken the world by storm, with cases continuously increasing by the hour and with a shortage of information regarding the virus available to the general public. Despite the availability of trusted online sources, there are still misconceptions relating to the virus floating around. This study aimed to find out the level of misconceptions among healthcare professionals (HCPs) worldwide about the ensuing COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted through a global online survey. The self-administered questionnaire was designed and registered at an online website (Kwiksurveys). A total of 652 participants from 35 different countries across the world responded. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 23. Socio-demographic and discipline characteristics were compared with the help of the chi-square test and univariate and multivariate logistic regression to find significant relationships. ...
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2020
The breakthrough of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in Wuhan, a city of China, has damaged the stat... more The breakthrough of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in Wuhan, a city of China, has damaged the status of health and quality of life. In the sequel of this epidemic or contagious disease, the patient experiences fever, chest paint, chills, a rapid heartbeat, breathing difficulties, pneumonia, and kidney failure. It has been suggested that this disease can spread through human-to-human transmission or by super spreading. By the help of the non-invasive fluid “saliva”, it is easy to detect the virus. This can help with the comfort of the patient as well as healthcare personnel. Under this perspective, we discuss the epidemic situation of 2019-nCOV and its relationship with human saliva.
European Journal of Dentistry
People with disabilities experience inferior health and poor access to good quality health servic... more People with disabilities experience inferior health and poor access to good quality health services as compared with the general population. Optimum oral health is associated with improvement in the quality of life in such patients. As oral diseases are largely preventable, good oral health education can have a positive impact on individuals with disabilities. So, the aim of the study was to review the effectiveness of oral health promotion among individuals with intellectual disabilities (IDs). Seven electronic databases were searched using keywords like intellectual disability/mental retardation/learning disability AND dental health education/health promotion. All records that were identified electronically from this search were subjected to a preliminary review to identify eligible papers. Identified studies were grouped into oral health promotion directed at individuals with IDs, and those aimed at caregivers of people with IDs. Interpretation of the outcomes included the effect...
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Various studies have indicated that persons with special needs may face several barriers to denta... more Various studies have indicated that persons with special needs may face several barriers to dental treatment, which increases the prevalence of oral diseases in this population. Moreover, these studies suggested that Saudis with special needs have a higher prevalence of oral diseases, such as dental caries and periodontal disease. The aim of this review is to synthesize evidence regarding the current status, trends in oral health behaviors, and oral health care utilization among these individuals, as well as to assess the quality of the literature. Furthermore, this review seeks to recommend directions for future research and oral health care policymaking. An electronic search was conducted using the following databases and registers: PubMed/Medline, Embase, ISI Web of Science, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov, and CENTRAL. Gray literature, which included conference proceedings and unpublished literature, was searched via the library services and Google/Google Scholar, and the quality of ...
Basic practices of oral hygiene and awareness of oral and dental disease among deaf and dump population in Saudi Arabia
Dentistry, Dec 6, 2017
Materials
Introduction: In many cases, the replanted teeth may undergo resorption or ankyloses. Recent stud... more Introduction: In many cases, the replanted teeth may undergo resorption or ankyloses. Recent studies show that autologous platelet concentrates (APCs) may improve the outcomes of tooth replantation. The aim of this systematic review was to summarize and critically appraise the currently available literature on the use of APCs before tooth replantation. Methodology: An electronic search was conducted on the following research databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, ISI Web of Science, EMBASE and Scopus. The following medical subject heading (MeSH) keywords used were: ((tooth replantation) OR (replanted tooth) OR (teeth replantation) OR (replanted teeth)) AND ((autologous platelet concentrate) OR (platelet-rich plasma) OR (platelet-rich fibrin) OR (autologous platelet)). The studies’ data was extracted, and the research’ quality was rated using the CARE and ARRIVE protocols. Results: Ten case reports and three animal studies, one cell study and one study, which included both animal and in vitro ex...
Surface modification techniques of dental implants
Dental Implants, 2020
Abstract Dental implant surface modification has been developed over the years on both commercial... more Abstract Dental implant surface modification has been developed over the years on both commercial and research levels. Various surface modifications have been incorporated into the commercially available titanium implants, polyether ether ketone (PEEK), zirconia, and silicon nitride (Si3N4) with proven clinical success. These surface adjustments have supported the success rate of the implant therapy in different challenging clinical situation and reduced the expected treatment time. The future of dental implant will rely on improvement of more efficient, advanced, and standardized clinical and laboratory research methodology with well-designed multicenter clinical trials to develop a solid evidence for standardized surface treatment. The increasingly active research on implant material surface improvement allows us to expect development of a smart tailored implant surfaces that can optimize the different adjacent interfaces within few years.
World Journal of Dentistry, 2020
Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of oral health promotion among teachers and pa... more Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of oral health promotion among teachers and parents of Special Care School Children (SCSC) in Al-Kharj Province of Saudi Arabia. Materials and methods: Out of 936 children with special healthcare needs (CSHCN) in 18 schools that have programs to teach SCSC, 8 boys' schools were chosen randomly. Fifty-six teachers and 74 parents of SCSC were involved in the oral health promotion of 163 SCSC, all males, aged 6-15 years. Oral health promotion was done at each school according to the specific needs of the group as well as the training of teachers. Parents and teachers were given training on the use of powered toothbrushing with commercially available fluoridated (1,450 ppm) toothpaste. Plaque scores were taken at baseline, at 3 months' interval, and finally at 6 months. Oral health knowledge and attitude of teachers and parents of SCSC were evaluated at the start and then finally at 6 months. Results: The average mean plaque score for the whole SCSC group at baseline was 1.55 that reduced to 1.35 after 3 months and finally to 1.1 after 6 months. The reduction of plaque scores was statistically significant (p < 0.05) using a one-sample t-test after the incorporation of the supervised toothbrushing program. There was a significant change in the knowledge and attitude of the parents as well as the teachers of the SCSC after the incorporation of oral health promotion. Conclusion: Preventive oral health programs involving teachers and parents of SCSC resulted in significantly lower plaque scores. The program also resulted in improved oral health knowledge and attitude among teachers and parents of SCSC. Clinical significance: Oral health care remains the most frequently cited unmet health need for CSHCN. In view of high unmet need and problems faced with access to oral health care, it is significant that preventive oral health measures are incorporated into the daily regime for SCSC. Oral health promotion in the form of better plaque control along with improved oral health knowledge and attitude of teachers as well as parents of SCSC is recommended.
The Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice, 2021
Aim and objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the satisfaction of an oral health promot... more Aim and objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the satisfaction of an oral health promotion program among parents and caregivers of children with special healthcare needs (CSHCN) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Materials and methods: A digital survey using Google forms was used during an event to commemorate the World Disability Day. Stalls for oral health education and training were set up at Disabled Children Society, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Oral health education was carried out using written pamphlets, brochures, and videos. Live demonstration on dental models was used for tooth-brushing training using a powered toothbrush. Parents and caregivers were asked to complete a survey about oral health education during the event. An overall 189 parents and caregivers of CSHCN including 62 males and 127 females completed the survey. The responses were entered digitally prior to being evaluated. Results: The respondents were parents and/or caregivers of children mostly having cerebral palsy followed by autism. Females consisted of 67% of the respondents. Eight-one percent of respondents rated it as highly satisfied. Ninety-one percent of the respondents perceived that the information provided was new for them regarding oral healthcare for CSHCN. Ninety-eight percent of respondents were likely to attend a similar event in the future. Conclusion: Majority of parents and caregivers of CSHCN were highly satisfied by the oral health education during the event. They felt that they can take better care of the oral health of their CSHCN after the oral health education and training. Clinical significance: Oral health among CSHCN is neglected when compared to children among the general population. CSHCN exhibit many barriers to oral health care. Oral health promotion among CSHCN is important as they have a high unmet oral health need.
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Papers by Dr.Faris Yahya I Asiri
Background: Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often face challenges in maintaining good oral health, because of factors including sensory sensitivities, communication difficulties, and microbial imbalances in the oral cavity. Despite growing awareness of ASD, both in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and globally, no systematic review has comprehensively assessed the ef effects of ASD on oral health status in KSA.
Objective: This study was aimed at assessing whether the oral health of individuals with ASD in KSA might differ from that of neurotypical individuals, on the basis of a systematic review framework.
Materials and methods: According to the Participants, Exposure, Comparison, and Outcome (PICO) frame- work, a systematic search of electronic databases was conducted, and screening was independently performed by two reviewers. Conflicts were resolved through dis-cussion. Data on study characteristics and oral health findings were independently extracted by the two re- viewers. The risk of bias was assessed with the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist for Analytical Cross-Sectional Studies.
Results: Of 763 initially identified articles, 14 met the inclusion criteria. These studies indicated that children with ASD have a higher prevalence of dental caries, greater gingival inflammation, and a greater risk of dental trauma than their neurotypical peers. Parents of children with ASD showed elevated concern regarding their children’s oral health.
Conclusion: Training dental professionals to manage patients with ASD is essential. Further research with larger sample sizes and rigorous methods is necessary to enhance understanding of the relationship between ASD and oral health outcomes in KSA.
Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; Dental diseases; KSA; Oral health; Oral-health-related quality of life
Background: Dental caries is prevalent among children, including those with disabilities. Although the World Health Organization recommends school-based oral health promotion (OHP) programmes involving teachers, limited research has explored teachers' roles and perspectives.
Aim: To assess special education teachers' involvement and difficulties regarding oral health education (OHE), attitudes towards OHP and barriers to oral health- care access for students with disabilities (SWDs).
Design: This descriptive cross-sectional study, conducted in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, involved 264 special education teachers using a validated, self- administered questionnaire, and descriptive and analytical statistics were used for data analysis.
Results: Only 39% of teachers incorporated OHE into their teaching, and just 20.8% received training for OHE delivery. Teachers showed strong support for integrating OHE into the curriculum (84.1%) and a no-sugar policy (78%). There was, however, less support for school-based toothbrushing (39%). OHE barriers included insufficient resources (56.1%), limited knowledge (29.2%) and miscon- ceptions about primary teeth removal (47.4%). The three most common barriers to oral healthcare access were extended waiting lists (75.0%), long waiting times (73.1%) and fear of dental equipment (67.4%).
Conclusion: This study highlights the need for collaboration between health- care professionals, educators and parents to enhance OHE and reinforce OHP for SWDs within special education and beyond.
Objectives: (1) summarize key findings on the barriers PWDs encounter in seeking dental and oral healthcare, (2) evaluate the influence of disabilities on accessibility to dental and oral health services, and (3) identify facilitators to improve access and inform future health policy.
Methods: Systematic review of systematic reviews of both cross-sectional and evaluative studies that identified barriers to oral health care access for PWDs. A comprehensive search of databases was conducted from inception to 24 February 2024, using specific keywords and Boolean operators. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed using AMSTAR 2 to ensure transparency and reliability.
Results: Five systematic reviews were included. These reviews highlighted financial constraints, provider reluctance, access difficulties, systemic barriers, and patient-related factors as major obstacles. Methodological variations across reviews were noted, affecting the transparency and reliability of findings.
Conclusion: Barriers to oral health care access for PWDs include financial, provider-related, access-related, systemic, and patient-related factors. Addressing these barriers, particularly in developing countries, should be a priority for future research and interventions.
Keywords: access to dental care; barriers to access; health disparities; oral health care; persons with disabilities.
Objective
This systematic review aimed to comprehensively summarize and critically assess studies conducted on oral health outcomes among individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) in Saudi Arabia.
Methods
This study followed the Participants, Exposure, Control and Outcomes (PECO) framework to formulate a focused research question. We conducted an extensive literature search across multiple databases, including PubMed, Medline, Scopus and Embase, in addition to clinical trial registers. Inclusion criteria encompassed clinical studies conducted in either English or Arabic, focusing on CP as defined by the International Classification of Diseases 10 (ICD10), and examining various oral health conditions and parameters. Nonclinical studies, commentaries, other systematic reviews and letters to the editor were excluded. Data extraction included comprehensive information about the study characteristics, oral health outcomes (dental, oral or periodontal disease; changes in standardized indices; dental trauma and other types of oral diseases) and an assessment of the risk of bias using the Appraisal Tool for Cross-Sectional Studies (AXIS).
Results
The initial search yielded a total of 879 articles, ultimately resulting seven studies that met our stringent inclusion criteria. All of these studies were conducted as cross-sectional investigations in different cities within Saudi Arabia. The sample sizes ranged from 46 to 400 participants, all falling within the age range of 2–18 years. Notably, the prevalence of dental caries among individuals with CP in these studies varied significantly, with rates ranging from 52.9% to as high as 98.6%. Additionally, a substantial portion of CP patients exhibited poor oral hygiene, with figures ranging between 34.6% and 66.2%, and dental trauma was reported in 47.5% of the cases. Moreover, these studies underscored the influence of motor function and intellectual disabilities on the oral health status of CP individuals. Furthermore, various secondary outcomes, including periodontal parameters and oral health-related quality of life, were also assessed. However, it is essential to acknowledge that several sources of bias were identified within these studies, raising questions about the generalisability of their findings.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the systematic review revealed a concerning pattern of high dental caries prevalence and other oral health issues among individuals with CP in Saudi Arabia. Nevertheless, the need for comparative studies between CP patients and those without CP is evident to establish a definitive understanding of the oral health status of CP individuals. Initiating early interventions such as oral hygiene education, preventive dentistry programs, and orthodontic interventions could potentially contribute to improved oral health outcomes for individuals with CP in Saudi Arabia.