KNOWLEDGE AND RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PARENTS TOWARD CHILD'S ORAL HEALTH: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22159/ajpcr.2017.v10i1.14568Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to understand the dental knowledge and responsibility of the parents toward child's oral health in a dental office.
Methods: A questionnaire (Annexure A) was distributed to 200 parents who came to Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals. Parent's information regarding dental knowledge, responsibility taking, and knowledge regarding child's oral health was collected with the aid of the structured questionnaire.
Result: The results showed that the dental knowledge of parents is lower than that of the experts. Parents mentioned that fluoride has less importance in enamel protection (p=0.87) than the experts (p<0.001). Almost 100% of the parents were engaged in the daily assistance of tooth brushing for their children. However, child's diet control is poor. Nearly 26% of the parents have no control of sweet consumption for their child. About 45% of the parents have no control of biscuits consumption for their child. Moreover, 22% of the parents of uncooperative child dental patients mentioned that it is a dentist's responsibility for the unwillingness of the treatment and treatment refusal stated by the child.
Conclusion: This study showed that the parents have poor dental knowledge and are not responsible for their child's oral health. They do not maintain proper dietary habits for their children which may lead to the increased incidence of caries in childhood. Hence, there is a need for increase in dental knowledge of the parents to maintain a proper oral health of their children.
Keywords: Parental behavior, Parental dental knowledge, Child's behavior.
Downloads
References
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Guideline on behaviour guidance for the pediatric dental patient. Pediatr Dent 2015;37(6):15-6.
Goleman J. Cultural factors affecting behavior guidance and family compliance. Pediatr Dent 2014;36(2):121-7.
Arnrup K, Berggren U, Broberg AG, Lundin SA, Hakeberg M. Attitudes to dental care among parents of uncooperative vs. Cooperative child dental patients. Eur J Oral Sci 2002;110(2):75-82.
Stecksen-Blicks C, Holm AK. Between-meal eating, toothbrushing frequency and dental caries in 4-year-old children in the north of Sweden. Int J Paediatr Dent 1995;5(2):67-72.
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
The publication is licensed under CC By and is open access. Copyright is with author and allowed to retain publishing rights without restrictions.
