Internet Information On Child Oral Health And First Dental Visit

Objectives: (i)Determine what online information regarding child first dental visit (CFDV) is provided by paediatric dental associations; and (ii)Determine what advice about CFDV is available on the internet; and (iii)Determine whether the advice on the internet matches guidelines provided by dental authoritative associations, Methods: By using several keywords, online information regarding CFDV was searched via the Google search engine under Australian domain (Classic mode, URL: http://www.google.com.au/) from 5pm of 23/7/2011 until 10.30am of 24/7/2011. 200 search results were analysed and compiled. Similarly, information on CFDV was searched on various dental authoritative associations. Reference international paediatric guidelines suggest the time from first tooth erupts and/or by one year old. The prevalence and distribution of search results recommending consistent guidelines was investigated, along with the scope of additional information available on those search results. Results: Online guidelines regarding CFDV were readily accessible in 5 out of 7 dental authoritative associations investigated, which consistently recommend CFDV from when first tooth erupts and/or by one year old. Similar timing was found in 49% of the sites investigated. Majority of these sites were informative: the three most popular topics were oral hygiene instructions, procedures for age-one-CFDV and the methods of child preparation prior to CFDV. Some relevant issues were overlooked: reasons for age-one-CFDV and the importance of primary dentition. Inconsistent guidelines occur in 16% of the sites investigated. These were primarily associated with dentists and forums. Conclusion: Online information regarding timing for CFDV was readily available but not necessarily reliable and authoritative. Sites recommending consistent guidelines on the timing of CFDV were rather informative, although some issues which potentially encourage higher attendance of age-one-CFDV were overlooked. Future research is required to assess the reproducibility and generalizability of the study. Overall the internet was informative about timing of CFDV if parents reviewed several sites