Pathways between parental and individual determinants of dental caries and dental visit behaviours among children: Validation of a new conceptual model

Abstract

Objectives To delineate the pathways between the parental and individual determinants of dental caries and dental visit behaviours among children, using path analysis. Methods The study employed an observational design; the study sample consisted of 583 parent‐child dyads. Data were collected using a sociodemographic and oral health behaviour form, the Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire, the Corah Dental Anxiety Scale and the Children's Fear Survey Schedule‐Dental Subscale. A conceptual model was developed, and it consisted of four endogenous variables (dental caries, children's oral health, dental visit behaviours and children's dental anxiety) and four exogenous ones (parental socioeconomic status, parental dental anxiety, parental oral health behaviours and parenting style). Path analysis was used to test the compatibility of the conceptual model, with a statistical significance at P < .001. Results 49.1% of participants (n = 286) were male. The mean age of participants was 8.3 (SD = 2.1). The mean DMFT score was 6.0 (SD = 3.0) and the mean Frankl behaviour score 3.0 (SD = 1.0). Parental socioeconomic status showed the strongest association with dental caries (β = .276; P < .001), and children's dental anxiety had the strongest association with dental visit behaviours (β = −.414; P < .001). Parental socioeconomic status and oral health behaviours were directly associated with dental caries (P < .001), and parental socioeconomic status had the most association. Parenting style and parental and children's dental anxiety were associated with dental visit behaviours (P < .001). Further, while all parental variables except prior exposure to training about oral and dental health were significantly correlated with dental caries, only educational level and coverage by health insurance were significantly associated with Frankl behaviour scale score. Conclusions This study developed and validated a conceptual model that delineates the pathways between the parental and individual determinants of children's oral health and dental visit behaviours. The model should help us to understand these pathways to lower the incidence of dental caries and improve dental visit behaviours among children.

Impact of maternal and child dental anxiety on oral health-related quality of life of 5–6-year-old preschool children

“…Similarly, about 15% of the world’s population avoids dental care to some extent due to fear [ 8 – 10 ]. Higher level of anxiety is not only associated with poorer oral health status but also causes psychosocial problems in children and adults [ 6 , 11 – 14 ]. While assisting highly anxious patients overcome their fear of dental treatment poses its own set of challenges, its success will no doubt result in the improvement of their oral health status, quality of life, and well-being [ 15 , 16 ].…”

What do Parents Know About Oral Health and Care for Preschool Children in the Central Region of Saudi Arabia?

“…As many of these risk factors can be prevented and require modification at the home level, parents' engagement, who are the legal guardians of children, particularly at a very young age, has been encouraged to facilitate preventive measures [8,9]. Parental perceptions about their children's oral health can affect the preventive dental care children receive at home and their use of professional dental services [10].…”

Comparison of Survival Rates of Stainless-Steel Crowns Placed with and without Pulpotomy: A Two-Year Retrospective Study

“…Caries is a result of bacterial biofilm colonization on the tooth surface that utilizes carbohydrates of food and drinks into acids leading to low PH levels in the oral cavity, which cause enamel demineralization, followed by enamel and dentin caries [ 2 ]. Moreover, with constant high intake of carbohydrate and sugar in addition to low-fluoride exposure, a distraction can cause to a tooth structure inducing pain and cavities, leading to pulpitis, tooth loss, and infection in late stages [ 3 – 5 ]. Early childhood caries (ECC), defined as the presence of one or more dental caries lesion in 71 months of age or younger, has been recognized as a global challenge to pediatric oral health [ 6 ].…”