Perceptions of Academic General Dentists Versus Private Practice General Dentists
Regarding Barriers to Care for Children with Chronic Medical Conditions
Carmen L. Frazier
Capstone Mentor: Andres Pinto, D.D.S, D.M.D, M.P.H
University of Pennsylvania School of Public Health
Abstract
Academic General Dentists (AGD) and Private Practice General Dentist (PPGD)
often share care of Children with Chronic Medical Conditions (CCMC).
Previous
research has identified barriers to care of CCMC such as lack undergraduate training
among general dentists.1 The objective of this study was to evaluate differences between
perceptions of AGD versus PPGD regarding care for CCMC. This was a cross sectional
survey study. Electronic questionnaires were emailed to a convenience sample of general
dentists working in academic dental schools or affiliated practices and to general dentists
working in private offices in the same geographic area. Data was collected and retained
without identifiers for analysis. We found no difference in demographic baseline data
between both groups. Lack of training, opportunity to treat, and practice not adequately
equipped were the top three barriers reported by both groups. A positive correlation was
found between desire for additional training and having under-graduate and post-graduate
exposure to CCMC.
Also, a positive correlation was found between years of
graduation/experience and desire for additional training. Findings highlight the common
barriers AGD and PPGD face in treating CCMC and the small percent of dentists who
recognize the need to address oral health disparities among CCMC and who desire to stay
current in the treatment of CCMC.
Key Words: Children with Chronic Medical Conditions (CCMC); Academic General
Dentist (AGD); Private Practice General Dentist (PPGD)