Bridging the gap in pre-hospital maternity care: emergency personnel's knowledge and clinical skills in managing obstetric emergencies.

Preventive dentistry is a core component of dental education, focusing on strategies to manage oral health at the individual and community levels []. However, conventional training often lacks an emphasis on the needs of special populations, such as individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) []. ASD is an neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and restricted, repetitive behaviors. Historically, ASD was classified into subtypes distinguished by learning ability and intellectual functioning [], but the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th edition, DSM-5) adopts a dimensional severity classification but retains recognition of ASD’s profound heterogeneity in cognitive, learning and language abilities []. This has important implications for oral health care delivery. The latest epidemiological data indicate a continuous upward trend in ASD prevalence worldwide: the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2025) reported that approximately 1 in 31 8-year-old children were identified with ASD, a notable increase in recent years []. In China, estimates suggest an ASD prevalence of 0.7%, corresponding to ~ 1 in 143 children []. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis of 21 nationwide multicenter studies in China (2017–2023) revealed a weighted ASD prevalence of 1.47% among children and adolescents aged 0–18 years, with the highest prevalence (1.89%) observed in preschool children aged 3–6 years []. These epidemiological trends underscore the growing need for dental professionals to serve this population. Children with ASD often experience poor oral health because of sensory sensitivities, impaired motor skills, behavioural challenges, and difficulties in accessing professional care []. Studies report higher rates of dental caries and gingivitis among children with ASD than among their neurotypical peers [, ]. Moreover, 60%–80% of dentists express reluctance to treat patients with developmental disabilities []. Collectively, these factors highlight a critical gap in dental training and student preparedness for caring for children with ASD.