Access to dental care for children with special healthcare needs: general dentists’ perspectives from the UAE

Background: Children with special healthcare needs (SHCN) experience persistent disparities in access to oral healthcare. Despite legislative frameworks in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) supporting equitable care, provider-level barriers remain insufficiently characterized. Objective: To evaluate general dental practitioners' (GDPs) perceptions of barriers to delivering dental care to children with SHCN in the UAE and to examine associated demographic factors. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among GDPs licensed across the UAE health authorities using a structured questionnaire adapted from a previously validated instrument. Data were collected between January and July 2025 through professional email lists, social media, conferences, and professional networks. Because recruitment used open dissemination channels, the total number of dentists who received or viewed the invitation could not be determined, and a conventional response rate could not be calculated. Descriptive statistics and exploratory subgroup analyses were used to summarize responses and examine associations. Results: A total of 206 GDPs participated. The most commonly reported barriers were patient-related behavioral challenges (53.4%) and insufficient practitioner training (52.9%), followed by communication difficulties (45.1%). Although most respondents reported that their clinics were physically accessible (86.4%), a majority indicated inadequate equipment (58.3%). Only 43.2% were aware of national legislation supporting individuals with disabilities. GDPs reported greater confidence in providing preventive and routine care compared to more complex procedures. Conclusion: providing dental care for children with SHCN. Although many respondents supported additional training and reported physical clinic accessibility, self-reported confidence was generally moderate, and suitable equipment was not universally available. These findings suggest the need for strengthened foundational undergraduate exposure, targeted continuing professional development, improved referral pathways, and context-sensitive clinic-readiness initiatives.