Objectives: This study had three aims. To explore parental knowledge and perceptions of children's oral health, identify associations between those perceptions and children's caries status and identify areas where parental education can be improved.
Methods: Parents of Head Start children in 4 counties in North Central Florida completed questionnaires to explore their perceptions and knowledge of children's oral health, self efficacy, and fatalism. Dental records of participants'children were also reviewed.
Results: 74 parents participated in the survey and majority knew the definitions of cavity,fluoride and plaque. A positive association was observed between Spanish as a primary language and misunderstanding the meaning of plaque (p<.001). Reports of bed-time snacking was 55% and highest among African-Americans. Although 92% of parents reported feelings of self efficacy, 45% expressed a fatalistic belief that most children eventually develop cavities and this was predominant among African-Americans (p=.01). A review of the 29 dental charts belonging to children (aged 3-5 years) of participants, revealed 93% had severe early childhood caries. It was not possible to identify definitive associations between parental perceptions and their children's caries status. However future data from this ongoing study may reflect a stronger link. Conclusion: Fatalism about dental disease in children is common among low-income parents.Oral health education should target parents whose primary language is not English and those with £ high school education. Furthermore, based on the recommendations of AAPD and AAP and to achieve their preventative goals, Head Start programs should consider oral health screenings for children at age 1 year.
This research was supported by the UFCD Student Summer Research Fellowship