[Survey special care groups: the outcome]

From mid-December 2024 to mid-February 2025, a poll was conducted among the readers of the NTVT to gain insight into their views on the treatment of people with disabilities or autism. 27,2% of all respondents indicated that there are insufficient options to refer people with disabilities or autism for treatment within a 30-minute travel distance. Moreover, many Centers for Special Care Dentistry have a waiting lists or do not take on new patients anymore. The contribution of general practitioners is therefore much needed to organize the necessary care for these special care groups in the Netherlands. The degree of perceived competence appears to be associated with the self-reported treatment of people with a moderate to severe intellectual disability in the general dental practice. Additional training appears to lead to more competence, and therefore possibly to more treatment of these special care groups in the general dental practice.