What parents understand of their children’s dental treatment in UFMG

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate what the parents understood of the explanations given by their children's dentist concerning treatment. This research was undertaken in the Pediatric Dentistry Clinic of UFMG. Methods: A structured questionnaire, organized as an interview, was given to 30 parents/guardians responsible for children between the ages of 03 to 12. This questionnaire was elaborated with open and closed questions which collected personal data and information related to what the parents understood concerning their children's dental treatment. The data were compared to explanations given by the child's dentist concerning the dental procedure. Results: In relation to the information about the type of dental treatment undertaken, 66.7% of parents said that they had been informed and were satisfied with the explanations. Of those who confirmed having received this kind of information, 65% were no able to explain the treatment that the child was undertaking correctly. When asked about their participation in the decisions concerning their child's dental treatment, 53.3% said they did not make any contribution. 100% reported that the dentist was available to answer their questions and give further explanations related to the procedure. Conclusion: We observed that the majority of parents were not able to explain the dental procedures their children were receiving, and they adopted a passive role towards the treatment. It suggests vulnerability perhaps related to their socio-economic condition, and aggravated by the lack of access to quality dental services.