Oral Health Care for Children with Caries-free and Severe Caries

Objective: This study aimed to compare parental oral health care for children with caries-free and severe early childhood caries (S-ECC). Methods: This cross-sectional study consisted of 95 caries-free children and 95 S-ECC children at 12-60 months old. Dental caries and soft debris were examined. Background information, oral health care for children and parental opinion on AAPD recommendations were collected form the child's health notebook and parental interview using a questionnaire. T test, Chi-square test, Mann Whitney test, Fisher's exact test were applied in data analysis. Results: Compared with the caries-free children, the S-ECC children had statistically significant higher debris index (p<0.005). The parents of S-ECC children had lower education level (p=0.04). Less parents of S-EEC children knew their children's caries status (p=0.008) and brushed their children teeth (p=0.002) when compared with those of caries-free children did. Taking sweet beverages and eating snacks several times a day were significantly more common in S-ECC children than in caries-free children (p=0.015 and p=<0.005, respectively). Most children in both groups never saw a dentist before this dental examination. The parental opinion on AAPD recommendations, regarding to the most difficult and the easiest tasks for them to perform did not differ among both groups. Conclusions: Oral health care for children, provided by the parents of S-ECC children were inappropriate in many aspects which may contribute to the caries development. However, the parents of both groups require infant oral health care education in order to improve oral health care for their children.