Actitud de odontopediatras y ortodoncistas ante el tratamiento ortodóncico de pacientes con necesidades especiales.

Introduction: Patients with special needs often experience a high incidence and severity of malocclusions, which can negatively impact their quality of life. They also frequently encounter challenges in accessing orthodontic treatments. Objectives: This study evaluates the attitudes of pediatric dentists and orthodontists towards providing orthodontic treatment to patients with special needs and analyzes the main challenges faced in treating these patients. Materials and Methods: A survey was conducted among 38 dentists with postgraduate training in pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, or both. The survey included 9 questions about their experiences and perceptions regarding the dental and orthodontic treatment of patients with special needs, as well as their professional attitudes. Results: The sample included 38 participants, with 39.57% men and 60.53% women. Most had 5-10 years (36.8%) or 10-20 years (23.7%) of experience. Training was divided equally among orthodontics (34.21%), pediatric dentistry (34.21%), and both fields (31.57%). Of the respondents, 68.4% infrequently treated patients with special needs, and 71.1% provided occasional treatment. None refused orthodontic treatment; 65.8% would attempt it if necessary. The primary challenges were lack of patient cooperation and low demand for such treatments. A majority (73.7%) believed the benefits of treatment outweighed the drawbacks, and 81.6% expressed willingness to treat these patients with additional training. Conclusions: Enhanced training for both professionals and the families of patients with special needs is crucial for improving access to orthodontic care, which is significantly beneficial for these patients' quality of life