Dental Care Access Among Children and Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Cross Sectional Survey in Juiz de...

To investigate the conditions of access to dental care among children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Juiz de Fora, Brazil, and to identify the main barriers faced by this population.

This cross sectional study used a convenience sampling strategy. Data were collected from 130 parents or caregivers of children and adolescents with ASD through a structured questionnaire disseminated via institutions and digital platforms. The instrument was developed based on previous studies and reviewed by experts to ensure content validity. Descriptive analyses and Pearson's chi-square (χ²) tests were performed. Most children with ASD (70.8%) had received dental care at least once, but 56.2% did not undergo regular follow-up. The main barriers were difficulty finding specialized professionals (54.5%), financial constraints (42.0%), and behavioral limitations (23.9%). Younger children and those with higher family income, level 1 support, and verbal communication showed better adherence and behavior during dental care. Associations are reported without effect sizes or confidence intervals, as these analyses were not included in the study design.

Although most children and adolescents with ASD in Juiz de Fora had received dental care, ongoing barriers hinder consistent access, as identified through associative-not causal-relationships, given the cross sectional nature of the study. The shortage of specialized professionals, behavioral challenges, and financial difficulties remain major barriers to access. Early age, verbal communication, and higher family income were associated with, rather than predictive of, better access and adherence.