Trends in paediatric first dental visit and effect of parent's education level on oral hygiene awareness and practices among children.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The first dental visit provides the dentist an opportunity to advise parents on prevention of oraldiseases and also allows for early detection of caries and arrest of its progression. The knowledgeand attitude of parents towards treatment procedures for children has much impact while takinginto account their socioeconomic and educational status.

AIM: The aim of this study is to determine the most common reasons for the first visit amongchildren and the calculation based on arrival for treatment and time duration for presence of cause.

MATERIALS & METHOD: Patients from outpatient department of department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry. Ahmedabad Dental College and Hospital were evaluated. Sociodemographic data that include age and gender of the child, educational status, occupation ofparents was collected. A validated questionnaire was given to the parents.

EVALUATION: Evaluation was done based on a questionnaire

RESULT: Based on the present study, it can be concluded that parents' perception of their children'soral health is relatively low, so general awareness of parents' knowledge should be raised byconducting effective oral health programs and interventions. Educational interventions should beprovided to young families to increase parental knowledge and skills that help them recognizetheir child's dental needs. The interventions are more necessary for low socioeconomic parentsand for the parents of children with poor oral hygiene. It is generally assumed that a well-educatedperson is generally more aware of overall health, but the lack of awareness regarding theimportance of deciduous teeth was evident. The rationale of oral health awareness program is toimprove and motivate the parents regarding their dental health and treatment needs of theirchildren.

CONCLUSION: Most of the parents brought their children to dentist after their children experiencedpain or suffered from dental caries. There is ample need to raise awareness among masses regarding the importance of taking oralhealth care of their children quite seriously at the earliest budding stage of their life.