Caregiver-Reported Preventive Oral Health Practices and Satisfaction With Dental Treatment Under General Anaesthesia Among Adolescents and Adults With Intellectual Disabilities: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND

People with intellectual disabilities depend on family caregivers for daily oral care, yet caregiver-reported practices are rarely examined alongside satisfaction with dental treatment under general anaesthesia.

METHOD: Cross-sectional survey of 62 family caregivers of adolescents and adults with intellectual disabilities (median age 24.5 years, range 16-74) treated under general anaesthesia at Gazi University, Ankara, Türkiye. An investigator-developed questionnaire was administered face to face. Scores were analysed using analysis of variance and linear regression.

RESULTS

Reported practices were limited: 95.2% never used interdental cleaning and 66.1% never or rarely attended annual check-ups. Satisfaction was high (median 49 of 65). Higher maternal education was associated with higher composite scores (p = 0.002). The composite and satisfaction scores were not significantly associated (p = 0.553).

CONCLUSIONS

Satisfaction with treatment under general anaesthesia showed no association with reported preventive care and should not be assumed to indicate that such care is adequate.