Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
Access to dental care for persons with developmental disabilities in Ontario
Anjani Koneru1, Michael J Sigal
1College of Dentistry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. anjani.koneru@usask.ca
Objectives:
This study was undertaken to determine the proportion of persons primarily with developmental disabilities who encounter difficulties accessing dental care in Ontario, to identify perceived barriers to accessing dental care and to determine if persons with disabilities and their caregivers believe that oral health is important.
Methods:
Community organizations providing services mainly to persons with developmental disabilities in Ontario were recruited to circulate a questionnaire to their members by mail or the Internet. Fourteen organizations mailed out a total of 1,755 paper questionnaires in autumn 2006, of which 420 (23.9%) were returned; in addition, 236 Internet questionnaires were returned.
Results:
Of the 656 paper and Internet responses, 634 were deemed valid. Most of the respondents had developmental disabilities. Almost three-quarters of respondents (464 [73.2%] ) reported being able to access dental services in Ontario. Personal (internal) factors were more likely to represent barriers to dental care than external factors.
Conclusions:
The majority of persons with disabilities and most caregivers believed that oral health is important for overall health.
Related Concept Videos
Specialized Care Centers and Settings-I
Daycare centers
They provide several functions. Some facilities care for healthy newborns and children whose parents work, while others are medically focused and care for...
Intellectual Disability
Specialized Care Centers and Settings-II
Rural health centers are specialized care facilities in remote locations with very few medical personnel. The primary care providers who run the centers are mostly Registered Nurse Practitioners. Here, emergency treatment is provided to critically ill or injured patients before they are transferred to the closest hospital. Fortunately, due to advancement in technology, many rural healthcare facilities and professionals have easy access to diagnostic and treatment...
Learning Disabilities
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a...
Documentation in Long-Term and Home Healthcare Setting
Long-Term Care Facilities
Continuing Care
