Comparative Assessment of Parents’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Caries Preventive Measures among Elementary School Students with Carious and Healthy Permanent Mandibular First Molars in Ahvaz City

Abstract

Background and Objectives The first permanent molar teeth develop at the age of 6 to 7 and usually slowly and without concern in the posterior molar second molar. Accordingly, the present study aims to compare parents' knowledge and attitudes about prevention methods. Caries in two groups of primary school children with permanent and deadly molar teeth in Ahvaz city in 1397-98. Subjects and Methods This study was descriptive-analytic. The sample size was 214 children with permanent and impaired primary molars, and their parents were selected according to the formula and randomly. Data were collected by a researcher-made questionnaire. Then it was analyzed by SPSS20 software and descriptive and inferential statistics. Results Parents 'awareness of decay prevention methods in primary school children was very low in deciduous first molars and in children with normal molar teeth, there was a significant difference between parents' knowledge scores (P <0.05). The mean of the answers to all the questions related to parents' attitude in primary school children with the first molars was 6 and in the group with the first molars was 4.99. Parents' performance in children with first molar teeth was desirable and in children with impacted first molar teeth was undesirable. Parental performance of the two groups was significantly different (P <0.05). Conclusion According to the results, not only did parents increase their knowledge and attitudes toward oral health of their children, but also provided the necessary facilities for the implementation and performance of the learning.