{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,8]],"date-time":"2026-10-08T07:53:29Z","timestamp":1791446009958,"version":"4.3.3"},"reference-count":52,"publisher":"Wiley","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,8]],"date-time":"2026-10-08T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1791417600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/termsAndConditions#vor"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,8]],"date-time":"2026-10-08T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1791417600000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/doi.wiley.com\/10.1002\/tdm_license_1.1"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Australian Dental Journal"],"abstract":"<jats:title>ABSTRACT<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Objective<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>In Australia, Dental Therapists (DTs), Dental Hygienists (DHs) and Oral Health Therapists (OHTs) encounter Special Needs (SN) patients in their clinical practice. This study investigates their perception, training, working experience and referral patterns within Special Needs Dentistry (SND).<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Materials and Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Paper\u2010based questionnaire was distributed to a systematically selected sample of 1000 registered DHs, DTs and OHTs who were members of professional bodies in Australia. Respondents were included irrespective of age, gender, length of working experience and country of graduation. Data analysis consisted of Chi\u2010squared regression analysis (\n                      <jats:italic>p\u2009&lt;\u20090.05<\/jats:italic>\n                      ) using IBM SPSS Windows Version 29.0 (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia).\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      A response rate of 49.8% (215 DTs, 107 DHs and 163 OHTs) was obtained. A significantly larger proportion of OHTs (59.5%) was aware of SND as a specialty compared to DHs (45%) and DTs (41.9%) (\n                      <jats:italic>p\u2009&lt;\u20090.05<\/jats:italic>\n                      ) and hence OHTs referred to SND specialists more often than other groups. In addition, 73.6% of OHTs, 63.6% of DHs and 40% of DTs had both didactic and clinical training in SND (\n                      <jats:italic>p\u2009&lt;\u20090.05<\/jats:italic>\n                      ). All the categories stated lack of training and continuing professional development (CPD) in SND as the main reasons for not treating SN patients. They therefore expressed interest in attending related CPD training (OHTs: 90.2%, DHs: 88.8% and DTs: 88.3%).\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>OHTs demonstrated greater awareness, training, working experience and referral in SND than DHs and DTs; however, training gaps across all groups highlight the need for strengthened undergraduate education and accessible CPD in SND.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Clinical Relevance<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Understanding the perception of allied dental professionals regarding SND is crucial for improving access to and the quality of care for patients with special needs. Prior research has highlighted gaps in training and confidence levels amongst general practitioners; however, little is known about the perspectives of allied professionals. This study provides valuable insights into their awareness, perceived roles and educational needs, emphasizing the importance of inclusive team\u2010based care.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1111\/adj.70075","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,8]],"date-time":"2026-10-08T07:08:51Z","timestamp":1791443331000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Perception of Special Needs Dentistry Amongst Allied Dental Professionals in Australia"],"prefix":"10.1111","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2216-3922","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jessica","family":"Francis","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Dentistry Universiti Malaya  Kuala Lumpur Malaysia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Gelsomina Lucia","family":"Borromeo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Dentistry University of Melbourne  Melbourne Victoria Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,8]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_13_2_1","unstructured":"Royal Australian College of Dental Surgeons Definition of Special Needs Dentistry(2012) http:\/\/www.racds.org\/examinations\/special_needs_dentistry."},{"key":"e_1_2_13_3_1","first-page":"1","volume-title":"A Case of Need: Proposal for a Specialty in Special Care Dentistry","author":"Joint Advisory Committee for Special Care Dentistry","year":"2003"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_4_1","unstructured":"Special Care Dentistry Association Definition of Special Care Dentistry(2013) http:\/\/www.scdaonline.org\/SCDADefinitions."},{"issue":"3","key":"e_1_2_13_5_1","first-page":"S31","article-title":"Entry\/Reentry, Allied, and Alternative Careers: An IWLC Working Group Report","volume":"75","author":"Zarkowski P.","year":"2011","journal-title":"Journal of Dental Education"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_6_1","volume-title":"Australia's Health Series","author":"Australian Institute of Health and Welfare","year":"2012"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_7_1","unstructured":"World Health Organization Disabilities Survey(2012) http:\/\/www.who.int\/disabilities\/en."},{"key":"e_1_2_13_8_1","first-page":"1","volume-title":"Policy Statement 2\u20134. Specialisation in Dentistry","author":"Australian Dental Association","year":"2016"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_9_1","volume-title":"Healthy Mouths, Healthy Lives: AustraliaAustralia's National Oral Health Plan 2015\u20132024","author":"National Advisory Committee on Oral Health (NACOH)","year":"2015"},{"issue":"1","key":"e_1_2_13_10_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"39","DOI":"10.1038\/sj.bdj.4810277","article-title":"Dental Surgery Attendance Amongst Patients With Moderately Advanced Dementia Attending a Day Unit: A Survey of Carers' Views","volume":"195","author":"Hilton C.","year":"2003","journal-title":"British Dental Journal"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_11_1","first-page":"17","volume-title":"A New Oral Health Professional\u2013The Oral Health Therapist","author":"Satur J.","year":"2010"},{"issue":"1","key":"e_1_2_13_12_1","first-page":"13","article-title":"A History of the Dental and Oral Health Therapy Profession in Australia and New Zealand","volume":"1","author":"Satur J.","year":"2012","journal-title":"Australian and New Zealand Journal of Dental and Oral Health Therapy"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_13_1","unstructured":"Health Workforce Australia Australia's Future Health Workforce\u2014Oral Health(2014) http:\/\/www.health.gov.au\/internet\/main\/publishing.nsf\/Content\/australias\u2010future\u2010health\u2010workforce\u2010oral\u2010health."},{"key":"e_1_2_13_14_1","unstructured":"Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Dental Workforce 2012(2014) National Health Workforce Series no. 7. Cat. no. HWL 53. Canberra: AIHW."},{"key":"e_1_2_13_15_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/adj.12381"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_16_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.4172\/2167-7182.1000322","article-title":"The Perception of Special Needs Dentistry Amongst General Dentists Within Western Australia, Australia","volume":"5","author":"Derbi H. A.","year":"2016","journal-title":"Journal of Gerontology & Geriatric Research"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_17_1","volume-title":"Oral Health and Dental Care in Australia 2025","author":"Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)","year":"2025"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_18_1","first-page":"165","article-title":"Special Needs Dentistry: The Next Ten Years","volume":"19","author":"Shnider W.","year":"2008","journal-title":"Annals of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons"},{"issue":"5","key":"e_1_2_13_19_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"424","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1753-6405.2009.00423.x","article-title":"The Capacity of Dental Therapists to Provide Direct Restorative Care to Adults","volume":"33","author":"Calache H.","year":"2009","journal-title":"Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health"},{"issue":"2","key":"e_1_2_13_20_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"61","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1875-595X.2008.tb00177.x","article-title":"Dental Therapists: A Global Perspective","volume":"58","author":"Nash D. A.","year":"2008","journal-title":"International Dental Journal"},{"issue":"10","key":"e_1_2_13_21_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"E16","DOI":"10.1038\/sj.bdj.2011.387","article-title":"Dental Hygienists and Therapists: How Much Professional Autonomy Do They Have? How Much Do They Want? Results From a UK Survey","volume":"210","author":"Turner S.","year":"2011","journal-title":"British Dental Journal"},{"issue":"4","key":"e_1_2_13_22_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"165","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1601-5037.2004.00094.x","article-title":"Dental Hygiene in Australia: A Global Perspective","volume":"2","author":"Luciak\u2010Donsberger C.","year":"2004","journal-title":"International Journal of Dental Hygiene"},{"issue":"4","key":"e_1_2_13_23_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"207","DOI":"10.1038\/sj.bdj.4800926a","article-title":"Dental Hygienists: A National Survey of Dental Hygienists: Working Patterns and Job Satisfaction","volume":"190","author":"Gibbons D.","year":"2001","journal-title":"British Dental Journal"},{"issue":"1","key":"e_1_2_13_24_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"61","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1834-7819.2007.00011.x","article-title":"Working Practices and Job Satisfaction of Victorian Dental Hygienists","volume":"53","author":"Hopcraft M.","year":"2008","journal-title":"Australian Dental Journal"},{"issue":"1","key":"e_1_2_13_25_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"22","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1601-5037.2012.00564.x","article-title":"Oral Health Therapists: What Is Their Role in Australian Health Care?","volume":"11","author":"Ford P.","year":"2013","journal-title":"International Journal of Dental Hygiene"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_26_1","first-page":"29","volume-title":"Oral Health Therapy Programs in Australia and New Zealand","author":"Seymour G.","year":"2010"},{"issue":"1","key":"e_1_2_13_27_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"15","DOI":"10.1922\/CDH_3848Teusner08","article-title":"Dental Service Provision by Oral Health Therapists, Dental Hygienists and Dental Therapists in Australia: Implications for Workforce Modelling","volume":"33","author":"Teusner D. N.","year":"2016","journal-title":"Community Dental Health"},{"issue":"8","key":"e_1_2_13_28_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"803","DOI":"10.1002\/j.0022-0337.2004.68.8.tb03826.x","article-title":"Dentistry for Persons With Special Needs: How Should It Be Recognized?","volume":"68","author":"Ettinger R. L.","year":"2004","journal-title":"Journal of Dental Education"},{"issue":"4","key":"e_1_2_13_29_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"195","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1600-0579.2012.00736.x","article-title":"The Value of Education in Special Care Dentistry as a Means of Reducing Inequalities in Oral Health","volume":"16","author":"Faulks D.","year":"2012","journal-title":"European Journal of Dental Education"},{"issue":"4","key":"e_1_2_13_30_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"454","DOI":"10.1002\/j.0022-0337.2009.73.4.tb04716.x","article-title":"Service\u2010Learning in Dental Education: Meeting Needs and Challenges","volume":"73","author":"Hood J. G.","year":"2009","journal-title":"Journal of Dental Education"},{"issue":"11","key":"e_1_2_13_31_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1179","DOI":"10.1002\/j.0022-0337.2010.74.11.tb04991.x","article-title":"Dental Education About Patients With Special Needs: A Survey of US and Canadian Dental Schools","volume":"74","author":"Krause M.","year":"2010","journal-title":"Journal of Dental Education"},{"issue":"2","key":"e_1_2_13_32_1","first-page":"98","article-title":"Improving Oral Health for Individuals With Special Health Care Needs","volume":"29","author":"Crall J. J.","year":"2007","journal-title":"Pediatric Dentistry"},{"issue":"7259","key":"e_1_2_13_33_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"495","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.321.7259.495","article-title":"Oral Health Care for Patients With Special Needs","volume":"321","author":"Davies R.","year":"2000","journal-title":"British Medical Journal"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_34_1","first-page":"77","article-title":"Workforce Education\u2010The Co\u2010Ordination of Oral Health Care for the Elderly\u2010The Role of the Dental Profession","volume":"21","author":"Borromeo G. L.","year":"2012","journal-title":"Annals of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_35_1","unstructured":"Dental Board of Australia Draft Scope of Practice Registration Standard and Guidelines(2016) http:\/\/www.Dental\u2010Board\u2010Consultation\u2010Paper\u2010Draft\u2010Scope\u2010of\u2010practice\u2010registration\u2010standard\u2010and\u2010guidelines.PDF."},{"key":"e_1_2_13_36_1","unstructured":"Australian Dental Council Professional Competencies of the Newly Qualified Dental Hygienist Dental Therapist and Oral Health Therapist(2016) http:\/\/www.adc.org.au\/documents\/Professional%20Competencies%20of%20the%20Newly%20Qualified%20DH%20DT%20OHT%20February%202016.pdf."},{"issue":"8","key":"e_1_2_13_37_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1154","DOI":"10.1002\/j.0022-0337.2014.78.8.tb05786.x","article-title":"Undergraduate Education in Special Needs Dentistry in Malaysian and Australian Dental Schools","volume":"78","author":"Ahmad M. S.","year":"2014","journal-title":"Journal of Dental Education"},{"issue":"2","key":"e_1_2_13_38_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"66","DOI":"10.4248\/ijos.09022","article-title":"Preparing Health Professionals to Provide Care to Individuals With Disabilities","volume":"1","author":"Holder M.","year":"2009","journal-title":"International Journal of Oral Science"},{"issue":"10","key":"e_1_2_13_39_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1107","DOI":"10.1002\/j.0022-0337.2005.69.10.tb04011.x","article-title":"General Dentists and Special Needs Patients: Does Dental Education Matter?","volume":"69","author":"Dao L. P.","year":"2005","journal-title":"Journal of Dental Education"},{"issue":"1","key":"e_1_2_13_40_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"39","DOI":"10.1111\/eje.12054","article-title":"Guidance for the Core Content of a Curriculum in Special Care Dentistry at the Undergraduate Level","volume":"18","author":"Dougall A.","year":"2014","journal-title":"European Journal of Dental Education"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_41_1","unstructured":"International Association of Disability and Oral Health Undergraduate Curriculum in Special Care Dentistry(2016) http:\/\/iadh.org\/wp\u2010content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/iADH\u2010Curriculum\u2010in\u2010SCD\u2010ENGLISH\u2010NEW\u2010LOGO\u20101672013.pdf."},{"issue":"2","key":"e_1_2_13_42_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"115","DOI":"10.1002\/j.0022-0337.2006.70.2.tb04067.x","article-title":"A Framework for Service\u2010Learning in Dental Education","volume":"70","author":"Yoder K. M.","year":"2006","journal-title":"Journal of Dental Education"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_43_1","unstructured":"International Association of Disability and Oral Health Postgraduate Curriculum in Special Care Dentistry(2016) http:\/\/iadh.org\/wp\u2010content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/iADH\u2010post\u2010graduate\u2010curriculum\u20102014.pdf."},{"key":"e_1_2_13_44_1","unstructured":"Dental Board of Australia Registration Standards(2016) http:\/\/www.dentalboard.gov.au\/Registration\u2010Standards.aspx."},{"issue":"4","key":"e_1_2_13_45_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"280","DOI":"10.1111\/idh.12038","article-title":"Senior Dentists' Perceptions of Dental Therapists' Roles and Education Needs in Malaysia","volume":"11","author":"Nor N.","year":"2013","journal-title":"International Journal of Dental Hygiene"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_46_1","volume-title":"Reforming Scopes of Practice: A White Paper","author":"LeBuhn R.","year":"2010"},{"issue":"8","key":"e_1_2_13_47_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"655","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1600-051X.1998.tb02502.x","article-title":"Variation in Periodontal Referral by General Dental Practitioners","volume":"25","author":"Linden G. J.","year":"1998","journal-title":"Journal of Clinical Periodontology"},{"issue":"4","key":"e_1_2_13_48_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"320","DOI":"10.1054\/bjom.2000.0299","article-title":"Patterns and Appropriateness of Referral From General Dental Practice to Specialist Oral and Maxillofacial Surgical Services","volume":"38","author":"Coulthard P.","year":"2000","journal-title":"British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery"},{"issue":"1","key":"e_1_2_13_49_1","first-page":"8","article-title":"Serving the Patient With Special Needs","volume":"20","author":"Folse G.","year":"2006","journal-title":"Access"},{"issue":"6","key":"e_1_2_13_50_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"446","DOI":"10.1016\/j.acap.2009.08.005","article-title":"Adding Dental Therapists to the Health Care Team to Improve Access to Oral Health Care for Children","volume":"9","author":"Nash D. A.","year":"2009","journal-title":"Academic Pediatrics"},{"issue":"2","key":"e_1_2_13_51_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"141","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1600-0528.2012.00734.x","article-title":"Envisioning an Oral Healthcare Workforce for the Future","volume":"40","author":"Nash D. A.","year":"2012","journal-title":"Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology"},{"issue":"4","key":"e_1_2_13_52_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"378","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1600-0528.2010.00605.x","article-title":"Utilizing Dental Hygienists to Undertake Dental Examination and Referral in Residential Aged Care Facilities","volume":"39","author":"Hopcraft M. S.","year":"2011","journal-title":"Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology"},{"issue":"7347","key":"e_1_2_13_53_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1183","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.324.7347.1183","article-title":"Increasing Response Rates to Postal Questionnaires: Systematic Review","volume":"324","author":"Edwards P.","year":"2002","journal-title":"British Medical Journal"}],"container-title":["Australian Dental Journal"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1111\/adj.70075","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full-xml\/10.1111\/adj.70075","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1111\/adj.70075","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,8]],"date-time":"2026-10-08T07:09:00Z","timestamp":1791443340000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1111\/adj.70075"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,8]]},"references-count":52,"alternative-id":["10.1111\/adj.70075"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/adj.70075","archive":["Portico"],"relation":{},"ISSN":["0045-0421","1834-7819"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0045-0421","type":"print"},{"value":"1834-7819","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,8]]},"assertion":[{"value":"2025-06-14","order":0,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}},{"value":"2026-09-15","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}},{"value":"2026-10-08","order":3,"name":"published","label":"Published","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}}],"article-number":"adj.70075"}}