The attitudes and experience of community dental officers in Northern Ireland in treating disabled people.

The views of community dental officers working in Northern Ireland were obtained concerning the difficulties they experience in treating disabled people. A closed questionnaire was used and a response rate of 84 per cent was achieved (60 officers). Thirty-seven per cent of the officers had received postgraduate training in this area. Lack of experience and knowledge concerning the treatment of the disabled was the commonest reason for not offering comprehensive dental care. Emotional upset and embarrassment or the length of time for treatment were the least cited. One-fifth perceived no barriers, a slight majority indicated two or less and only two officers indicated more than five. Those who were qualified ten years or longer, had greater difficulty than the more recently qualified in providing treatment for mentally and physically disabled children and medically compromised patients.