Nursing Students’ Assessment and Parent Reports of Their Children’s Oral Health Behaviors as Predictors of Tooth Decay Risk—A Cross-Sectional, Correlational Study

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between children’s tooth decay risk score and a dental examination and parent reports of oral health practices. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional correlational study utilizing data from an oral health assessment was performed by undergraduate nursing students and parents completed the permission forms. Results: Four hundred and fifty-six children received an oral health assessment. None of the percentages were found to be at high risk for tooth de cay and 21% were referred for further evaluation and dental treatment. Twenty-seven % of parents reported that their child was not being seen by a dentist and 49% reported that they had not established recommended tooth brushing practices in early childhood. In this analysis, the physical examination measures accounted for a significant amount of risk: R2 = 0.55, F(5,317) = 7.62, P < .00. The parent report measures offered little predictive power beyond the examination: R2 = 0.029, F(7,310) = 3.01, P = .00. Conclusions: These findings identify a need for a broader perspective to inform oral risk assessment and interventions to address oral health disparities. A social determinant of health framework would improve nursing students’ competency to identify children in need of early intervention. Oral health promotion at the family and community level would improve the preventive oral health practices.