Aims: The present qualitative study aims to explore the needs of families with children with disabilities, regarding their orthodontic care in a dedicated university orthodontic clinic.

Methods: Thirteen parents of children with disabilities, followed in a University orthodontic clinic dedicated to individuals with disabilities, were selected to participate in the present study. A grounded-theory approach was used to conduct informal in-depth interviews, which were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Interview transcriptions were analyzed to develop a theoretical proposition grounded in real-world observations.

Results: A core category was identified, namely the aspiration of parents of children with disabilites to afford a positive experience for their child. In association with the core category, six other categories emerged: location, accessibility, and a welcoming environment; convenience and availability; an empathetic team; good communication; appropriate and modern equipment; and quality of treatment outcome.

Conclusions: The families of children with disabilities seek personalized and high-quality orthodontic care in a favorable environment with a welcoming, empathetic, and communicative team. Gaining a clearer understanding of what families value in clinics and teams that provide orthodontic care for children with disabilties can help inform meaningful and positive improvements to these dedicated services.