Protocolo de manejo en pacientes pediátricos con discapacidad utilizado por odontopediatras del Ecuador, A- 2022.

Abstract

Currently, alterations in the oral cavity establish a health problem that affects the entire population, including pediatric patients with special disabilities. That is why it is considered necessary to know the management protocols for dental care in the office. Objective: To determine the most used protocol for the management of pediatric patients with disabilities. Materials and methods: Experimental descriptive study with a quantitative and qualitative (mixed) approach, through the use of a survey that was sent to 90 pediatric dentists currently practicing in Ecuador. Of this group, 74 responded to the surveys, of which a total of 42 pediatric dentists met the inclusion criteria, excluding the surveys that were not fully completed. Results: In the present study, the respondents indicated with 72.09% that the most prevalent disability is patients with intellectual disability, such as Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, epilepsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. (ADHD). On the other hand, 17.78% of the pediatric dentists surveyed consider that the “show-tell-do” technique is the most used to care for patients with disabilities. Within the pharmacological techniques, the most used was conscious sedation with 52.38%. Conclusion: The most recurrent type of disability in the dental office is intellectual disability. The most widely used behavior management technique is the “tell-show-do” technique.