Knowledge and awareness of sensory processing disorder and sensory-adapted dental care among pediatric dentists: A cross-sectional survey
Abstract
Aim: The study aimed to assess the knowledge and awareness of sensory processing disorder (SPD) and sensory-adapted dental care among pediatric dentists and to identify gaps in the recognition, assessment, and management of children with SPD. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was conducted among 145 practicing pediatric dentists. A self-administered 14-item questionnaire was developed following a review of the literature to assess knowledge of SPD, awareness of diagnostic approaches, sensory-adapted dental environments (SADEs), and perspectives on caregiver involvement in the dental management of children with SPD. The questionnaire demonstrated acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.622), and principal component analysis identified four components explaining 91.95% of the total variance. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests, with statistical significance set at P < 0.05. Results: Pediatric dentists demonstrated moderate knowledge of the clinical manifestations of SPD. However, awareness of standardized diagnostic tools and SADEs remained limited. Most participants recognized the importance of caregiver involvement and environmental modifications in improving the dental management of children with SPD, highlighting important gaps in diagnostic awareness and sensory-informed clinical care. Conclusion: Pediatric dentists demonstrated reasonable knowledge of the clinical manifestations of SPD; however, important gaps remain in awareness of diagnostic assessment methods and sensory-adapted dental care strategies. These findings highlight the need to strengthen undergraduate and postgraduate training and continuing dental education to promote evidence-based, sensory-informed pediatric dental care.
Related
- Knowledge, Awareness, and Perception toward Ethical Guidelines for Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Research and Healthcare among Dental Faculty and Postgraduates – A Cross-sectional Study
- Knowledge and awareness of benign prostatic hyperplasia among the general population in Makkah, Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study
- Cancer Knowledge and Environmental Exposure Awareness Among Healthcare Workers and the General Public in Istanbul: A Cross-Sectional Study
- Knowledge, Awareness and Practice Regarding the Spread of Oro-Dental Infections to the Head and Neck Region: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Survey Among Dental and Medical Students
- Chikungunya Awareness and Related Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Among Nursing Students at the University of Palermo, Italy: A Cross-Sectional Study of Associated Sociodemographic Factors.
BibTeX
@article{gambhir2026knowledge,
title = {{Knowledge and awareness of sensory processing disorder and sensory-adapted dental care among pediatric dentists: A cross-sectional survey}},
author = {Natasha Gambhir and Priyanka Sachdeva and Subhashree Sahoo and Avantika Tuli and Divya Singh and M. Sarika},
journal = {Journal of Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.4103/jisppd.jisppd_310_26},
url = {https://doi.org/10.4103/jisppd.jisppd_310_26},
note = {CC BY-NC-SA},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Knowledge and awareness of sensory processing disorder and sensory-adapted dental care among pediatric dentists: A cross-sectional survey
AU - Natasha Gambhir
AU - Priyanka Sachdeva
AU - Subhashree Sahoo
AU - Avantika Tuli
AU - Divya Singh
AU - M. Sarika
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/01
JO - Journal of Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry
DO - 10.4103/jisppd.jisppd_310_26
UR - https://doi.org/10.4103/jisppd.jisppd_310_26
AB - Aim: The study aimed to assess the knowledge and awareness of sensory processing disorder (SPD) and sensory-adapted dental care among pediatric dentists and to identify gaps in the recognition, assessment, and management of children with SPD. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was conducted among 145 practicing pediatric dentists. A self-administered 14-item questionnaire was developed following a review of the literature to assess knowledge of SPD, awareness of diagnostic approaches, sensory-adapted dental environments (SADEs), and perspectives on caregiver involvement in the dental management of children with SPD. The questionnaire demonstrated acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.622), and principal component analysis identified four components explaining 91.95% of the total variance. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests, with statistical significance set at P < 0.05. Results: Pediatric dentists demonstrated moderate knowledge of the clinical manifestations of SPD. However, awareness of standardized diagnostic tools and SADEs remained limited. Most participants recognized the importance of caregiver involvement and environmental modifications in improving the dental management of children with SPD, highlighting important gaps in diagnostic awareness and sensory-informed clinical care. Conclusion: Pediatric dentists demonstrated reasonable knowledge of the clinical manifestations of SPD; however, important gaps remain in awareness of diagnostic assessment methods and sensory-adapted dental care strategies. These findings highlight the need to strengthen undergraduate and postgraduate training and continuing dental education to promote evidence-based, sensory-informed pediatric dental care.
SN - 0970-4388
SN - 1998-3905
ER -