Abstract
This study was conducted to understand the current situation regarding access to dental care for people with disabilities in Japan, by asking parents with disabled children, “Have you ever looked for a dental clinic that performs oral examinations and dental treatment for people with disabilities?” The results may serve as information to help improve the dental care environment for people with disabilities in the future.
The survey was conducted using Google Forms. The survey was conducted by four national disability organizations, and we also invited relevant local disability organizations to participate in the survey. The survey period was from December 1, 2023 to February 20, 2024. There were a total of 1,080 participants in this study.
It was revealed that 86.3％ of parents with children with disabilities had been unable to immediately find a dentist to undergo an oral examination. Over 70％ of parents with disabled people aged between 10 and 40, were looking for a dental clinic that would examine their children. Both parents of disabled children over 40 years old and parents of disabled children under 10 years old had been looking for dental clinics that would examine their disabled children. This suggests that it may be difficult to know which dental clinics perform oral examinations for disabled children, both now and over 40 years ago. The percentage of people who have searched for a dental clinic for dental treatment was 80.6％, slightly lower than the 86.3％ who have searched for a dental clinic for oral examinations. Specialists certified by the Japan Dental Specialist Board are allowed to advertise themselves, which helps people choose where to visit. We believe that by producing a large number of high-quality specialists in dentistry for people with disabilities, we will be able to meet the needs of parents with children with disabilities.
