The association of parental dental anxiety and knowledge of caries preventive measures with psychological profiles and children's oral health

Authors

  • L Gavic Assistant Professor, Study of Dental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Split, Split
  • A Tadin Assistant Professor, Study of Dental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Split, Split
  • A Matkovic 6th year student, Study of Dental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Split, Split
  • K Gorseta Assistant Professor, Department of Paediatric Dentistry, School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb
  • SK Sidhu Queen Mary University of London, Barts & The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Institute of Dentistry, Centre for Oral Bioengineering London

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23804/ejpd.2022.23.01.06

Keywords:

Dental anxiety, Early Childhood Caries, Psychological profile

Abstract

AIM: As parents and caregivers are responsible for the oral health of children, their own dental anxiety may negatively impact the oral health of their children. This study aimed to assess whether parental dental anxiety and knowledge of caries preventive measures are associated with their psychological profiles and their children's oral health. METHODS: This case-control study involved parents, who were divided according to whether their children did or did not have active caries. The differences in Short version of the Dental Anxiety Inventory, and Knowledge of Caries Preventive Measures (KCPM) scores between the parents whose children have and do not have active caries was established by the Mann-Whitney U test (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Parental dental anxiety and knowledge of caries preventive measures are associated with the oral health of their children.