Parental Knowledge, Attitudes, and Utilization of Preventive Dentistry Modalities in Al Qassim, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Abstract

Background Parents play a vital role in modeling good oral hygiene practices for their children; thus, their attitude, knowledge, and awareness toward preventive dentistry can be one of the major factors contributing to children's oral health. Objectives The objective of this study is to determine the parental knowledge and attitudes toward the modalities of preventive dentistry for their children in Al Qassim, Saudi Arabia. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study was carried out using an online self-administered questionnaire designed for parents living in the Al Qassim region. The questionnaire included demographic data, parent knowledge and attitude toward preventive dentistry, and awareness of preventive dentistry procedures. The data collected were analyzed using RStudio. Results Data were collected from 392 Saudi parents (male: n = 190 (48.5%), female: n = 202 (51.5%)). The majority of participants (n = 336, 85.7%) considered the importance of primary teeth for general body health, while 320 participants (81.6%) believed that primary dentition influences permanent teeth. Awareness regarding special preventive measures like using toothpaste with fluorides comprised 87.5% (n = 343), and that of the benefits of early dental visits was 77.3% (n = 303). However, there was marked unawareness and use of preventive procedures such as serial extraction (n = 226, 57.7% of respondents unaware) and silver diamine fluoride (n = 276, 70.4% unaware). The higher levels of education and income were positively related to better knowledge and attitudes about preventive dentistry. Conclusions The current paper highlights the importance of educational interventions for enhancing parental knowledge and awareness about preventive dentistry. Community-based educational programs and increased availability of preventive dentistry services might be helpful in eliminating the knowledge gap among parents about good oral health practice.