Oral Health Care For Children Research Articles

영유아를 둔 부모의 자녀 구강건강에 대한 중요도 인식과 실행수준

Purpose: This study was conducted to suggest implications for oral health education for young children by examining the recognition of the importance of young children's oral health and the level of implementation among parents of recognition. Method: A survey was conducted on 320 parents of young children in Region C from July 10 to July 28, 2023. A total of 293 questionnaires were used in the final analysis. The collected data were conducted to frequency analysis, IPA analysis using IBM SPSS Statistics 25.0 Results: First, the question with the highest recognition of the importance of oral health care for children among parents of young children was ‘If a child says their teeth hurt, they receive dental treatment quickly. The item with the highest level of implementation was ‘When purchasing a toothbrush, purchase a children’s toothbrush that matches the size of child’s teeth.’ Second, the question with the highest recognition of the importance of oral health education for children among parents of young children was ‘Instructing children to brush their teeth, tongue, and gums when brushing their teeth.’ The question with the highest level of implementation was ‘Educate child to eat foods that are beneficial to dental health.’ Conclusions: There is a need to improve parents' level of practice regarding oral health of young children, including proper brushing of teeth, oral check-ups, and use of oral products. Nutrition education, oral health and safety parent education, and early childhood teacher retraining are requested.

Factors associated with the use of oral health care services among Canadian children and youth.

This study investigates the association between dental insurance, income, and dental care access for Canadian children and youth aged 1 to 17 years. It contributes to a baseline understanding of oral health care use before the implementation of the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP). This study used data from the 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth (n=47,347). Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models were employed to assess the association of dental insurance, adjusted family net income, and other sociodemographic factors on oral health care visits and cost-related avoidance of oral health care. A large percentage of children under the age of 5 had never visited a dentist (79.8% of 1-year-olds to 16.4% of 4-year-olds). Overall, 89.6% of Canadian children and youth aged 5 to 17 had visited a dental professional within the past 12 months: 93.1% of those who were insured and 78.5% of those who were uninsured. Insured children and youth had a 4.5% cost-related avoidance of dental care, contrasting with 23.3% for uninsured children and youth. After adjustment for sociodemographic variables, children and youth with dental insurance were nearly three times more likely (odds ratio [OR]: 2.94; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.60 to 3.33) to have visited a dental professional in the past 12 months than uninsured children and youth. Having dental insurance (OR: 0.19; 95% CI: 0.16 to 0.21) was protective against barriers to seeing a dental professional because of cost. There was a strong income gradient for both dental service outcomes. The study emphasizes the significant association of dental insurance and access to oral health care for children and youth. It highlights a significant gap between insured and uninsured children and youth and points out the influence of sociodemographic and income factors on this disparity.

Applying Social Practice Theory to Explore Australian Preschool Children's Oral Health.

Despite substantial research and provision of dental care, significant morbidity remains for children's oral health. Guided by social practice theory (SPT), this research moves away from the often-ineffective focus on changing individual behavior to rethinking the centrality of the social world in promoting or undermining oral health outcomes. We define social practice as a routinized relational activity linking and integrating certain elements (competence, materials, and meanings) into the performance of a practice that is reproduced across time and space. To investigate oral health in preschool children in Perth, Western Australia, using social practice theory. With no definitive methodology for investigating SPT, we chose focused ethnography as a problem-focused, context-specific approach using mainly interviews to investigate participants' experience caring for their children's oral health. The focus of analysis was the practice of oral health care, not individual behavior, where themes identified from participants' transcripts were organized into categories of elements and performance. Eleven parents, all of whom were married or partnered, were interviewed in 2021. Findings identified social practices relevant to oral health within parenting and family relations linked to routine daily activities, including shopping, consumption of food and beverages, and toothbrushing. Oral health literacy was reflected in integrating competence, materials, and meanings into performing oral health care, notably preferences for children to drink water over sugary beverages and information often being sourced from social media and mothers' groups rather than health providers. Focusing on social practices as the unit of analysis offers a more layered understanding of elements in young children's oral health care that can indicate where the problem may lie. Findings provide an opportunity to consider future research and policy directions in children's oral health. Examining social practices related to young children's oral health care identifies parents/carers' knowledge about, for example, toothbrushing, the resources required, and why toothbrushing is important. Analyzing these separate elements can reveal both enablers and barriers to oral health care. This provides researchers, clinicians and policymakers an opportunity to focus on not changing individual behavior but understanding how social context impacts parents/carers' capacity to make optimum decisions around young children's oral health.

Gamification and Oral Health in Children and Adolescents: Scoping Review.

Oral health is a determinant of overall well-being and quality of life. Individual behaviors, such as oral hygiene and dietary habits, play a central role in oral health. Motivation is a crucial factor in promoting behavior change, and gamification offers a means to boost health-related knowledge and encourage positive health behaviors. This study aims to evaluate the impact of gamification and its mechanisms on oral health care of children and adolescents. A systematic search covered multiple databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Library, ScienceDirect, and LILACS. Gray literature, conference proceedings, and WHOQOL internet resources were considered. Studies from January 2013 to December 2022 were included, except for PubMed/MEDLINE, which was searched until January 2023. A total of 15 studies were selected following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. The eligibility criteria were peer-reviewed, full-text, and empirical research related to gamification in oral health care, reports of impact, and oral health care outcomes. The exclusion criteria encompassed duplicate articles; unavailable full texts; nonoriginal articles; and non-digital game-related, non-oral health-related, and protocol studies. Selected studies were scrutinized for gamification mechanisms and outcomes. Two main questions were raised: "Does gamification in oral health care impact oral health?" and "Does oral health care gamification enhance health promotion and literacy?" The PICO (Patient, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) framework guided the scoping review. Initially, 617 records were obtained from 5 databases and gray literature sources. After applying exclusion criteria, 15 records were selected. Sample size in the selected studies ranged from 34 to 190 children and adolescents. A substantial portion (11/15, 73%) of the studies discussed oral self-care apps supported by evidence-based oral health. The most clearly defined data in the apps were "brushing time" (11/11, 100%) and "daily amount brushing" (10/11, 91%). Most studies (11/15, 73%) mentioned oral health care behavior change techniques and included "prompt intention formation" (11/26, 42%), "providing instructions" (11/26, 42%), "providing information on the behavior-health link" (10/26, 38%), "providing information on consequences" (9/26, 35%), "modeling or demonstrating behavior" (9/26, 35%), "providing feedback on performance" (8/26, 31%), and "providing contingent rewards" (8/26, 31%). Furthermore, 80% (12/15) of the studies identified game design elements incorporating gamification features in oral hygiene applications. The most prevalent gamification features were "ideological incentives" (10/12, 83%) and "goals" (9/16, 56%), which were found in user-specific and challenge categories, respectively. Gamification in oral health care shows potential as an innovative approach to promote positive health behaviors. Most studies reported evidence-based oral health and incorporated oral health care behavior change techniques.

Two-Year Trajectories of Dental Anxiety in Parents and Their Association with Parents' and Children's Oral Healthcare Procedures in FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study.

We aimed to identify parents' dental anxiety trajectories and the association of the trajectories with the number of parents' and their children's oral healthcare procedures in the FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study. Dental anxiety was measured with the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale at gestational weeks (gw) 14 and 34, as well as 3 and 24 months (mo) after childbirth. Oral healthcare procedures from gw14 to 24 mo were obtained from the national patient data register and categorized as preventive and treatment. Trajectories were identified with latent growth mixture modelling for 2068 fathers and 3201 mothers. Associations between trajectories and procedures adjusted for education were analyzed using unordered multinomial logit models. Fathers' trajectories were stable low (80.1%), stable high (3.4%), stable moderate (11.0%), moderate increasing (3.9%) and high decreasing (1.6%). Mothers' trajectories were stable low (80.7%), stable high (11.2%), moderate increasing (5.3%) and high decreasing (2.8%). Mothers with decreasing dental anxiety had a higher number of preventive and treatment procedures. Fathers with decreasing dental anxiety had a higher number of preventive and treatment procedures, while fathers with increasing dental anxiety had fewer procedures. Children of mothers with stable low dental anxiety had higher number of preventive procedures. There seems to be a two-way association between dental anxiety trajectories and oral healthcare procedures.

Oral health care in children with disabilities: A narrative review

Children with disabilities face discrepancies in receiving oral health services due to several barriers. This article aims to provide an overview on the oral health status of children with disabilities, impact on Quality of Life of children with disabilities and their family members, approaches in oral health education and/or services, roles of medical/oral health care providers, carers/parents, and special schools/centres, and future aspiration concerning these children. Articles were searched using online databases (Google Scholar, MEDLINE/PubMed) using various terms. Additional articles were searched manually from the reference list of the previously searched articles. Children with disabilities showed a higher prevalence of caries and periodontal disease and had irregular dental visits owing to the limitations encountered by the carers/parents. The psychological and physical health of carers/parents, and the well-being of children with disabilities are interrelated, suggesting the need for a comprehensive support system to address the specific needs of these groups. Oral hygiene care services for these children could be improved using oral health education tools, strengthening dental outreach programs, and/or adopting behaviour modification techniques. Oral health in children with disabilities is a global concern, therefore a holistic approach addressing this problem from the individual to international level, including interprofessional collaboration is imperative.

Perception of oral health professionals towards oral health care in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a cross-sectional questionnaire study

Background: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is one of the most common psychiatric disorders that affects both children and adults and is characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Around 9% of worlds’ child population and 20% of India’s is affected by ADHD. A child with ADHD can often have neglected or poor oral hygiene. Attending to the dental treatment of such children can be a challenging task for dentists. The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices of oral health care towards children with ADHD among oral health professionals. Methods: The study was carried out among 151 oral health professionals using a validated questionnaire. The results were tabulated in an excel sheet and analysed using SPSS software version 22.0. Results: It was found that among the participants, 71.52% had knowledge scores below the mean knowledge score, while 74.83% had attitude scores below the mean and likewise, 53.64% had practice scores below the mean practice scores. A positive correlation was found between knowledge, attitude, and practice by Karl Pearson’s correlation coefficient with a highly statistically significant p value of 0.0001 (p<0.05). This signified low knowledge correlated with less positive attitude leading to poor practices. Conclusions: Majority of the participating professionals perceive that their training did not prepare them well to treat ADHD affected children. However, practice levels were better among those with more years of experience.

AWARENESS AND HEALTH SEEKING BEHAVIOUR OF PARENTS REGARDING THEIR CHILDREN’S ORAL HEALTH AND PROFESSIONAL DENTAL CARE

Parents' awareness and health-seeking behaviour concerning their children's oral health and professional dental care are vital components shaping pediatric dental wellness. The study's primary objective is to find parents' awareness and health-seeking behaviour regarding their children’s oral health and professional dental care. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Karachi. Data was collected from 320 parents who participated in this study. To capture a comprehensive understanding, participant recruitment involves a diverse selection of parents, ensuring representation across various demographics, including age, socioeconomic status, educational background, and geographical location. Data were collected from 320 participants. Participants belong to different age groups. Respondents with a high school education or less constituted 35%, while those with a bachelor's degree represented 30% of the participants. The survey outlined varying degrees of parental awareness regarding specific oral health practices. While a high percentage of parents were aware of the importance of fluoride use for children (85%) and the ideal age for dental check-ups (60%), adherence to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) brushing recommendations and awareness of proper flossing techniques were notably lower, at 25% and 40%, respectively. It is concluded that early dental checkups play a crucial role in preventing conditions like dental caries. Founding good oral habits and hygiene during the formative years significantly contributes to lifelong oral health in children.

A STEPwise Approach for Oral Hygiene Behavior of Schoolchildren in Romania.

This research analyzes the dental hygiene habits of schoolchildren from parents' perspectives, using the STEPS approach recommended by the World Health Organization. The key points of oral health care in children include the role of the family in encouraging and maintaining proper oral hygiene practices. This study aimed to assess the oral hygiene practices of schoolchildren with on-site dentists in Romania. Additionally, it sought to establish correlations between these behaviors and the educational levels of the adults with whom they live with. The participants were selected from the zero grade to the eighth grade, totaling 3843students. Statistical analysis involved the application of Fisher's Exact Test and Z-tests with Bonferroni correction. Multinominal and binominal logistic regression models were employed to predict the impact of parents' education on children's oral health status and behavior. The oral health status of children evaluated by parents as poor was more frequent in children whose parents had a primary or gymnasium education (p < 0.001). Female adults with a university education evaluated the gum health of their children as very good to a much greater extent (41.7%, p < 0.001). Regarding the use of auxiliary means, the majority of parents with a university education mentioned that their children use dental floss (26.4% females/27.4% males) (p < 0.001), compared to those with primary education, where the percentage was only (1.2% males/3.5% females) (p < 0.001). The results of this study highlight that the education level of the adults with whom the children live with influences the perception of the teeth and gums health status, the frequency of oral hygiene, the use of fluoride toothpaste, and auxiliary brushing aids.

THE ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS OF PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY: NURTURING HEALTHY SMILES FROM AN EARLY AGE

Pediatric dentistry encompasses crucial components aimed at promoting optimal oral health in children. This article highlights the essential elements of pediatric dentistry, including preventive care, behavior management, growth and development monitoring,comprehensive dental treatments, and specialized materials and methods. By emphasizing preventive measures, creating supportive environments, and addressing the unique needs of pediatric patients, pediatric dentists play a pivotal role in nurturing healthy smiles from an early age. The integration of these components underscores the commitment to providing compassionate, tailored, and effective oral health care for children, ultimately contributing to the long-term oral health and well-being of pediatric patients.

Educators' perception of oral health in children's schools in Brazil

This study aimed to explore educators' perceptions regarding oral health promotion and the application of Atraumatic Restorative Treatment in the school environment. It is an exploratory descriptive observational study with a qualitative approach. The sample consisted of 18 educators from an Early Childhood Education Center. For data collection, a form was used with open and closed questions about oral health care for children: recreational and educational activities, supervised brushing and Atraumatic Restorative Treatment. Data were analyzed by descriptive analysis and by the Discourse of the Collective Subject. About 60% of educators considered caries a disease, 50% having observed toothache in children in the school environment. The educators considered the educational/preventive activities and the use of Atraumatic Restorative Treatment beneficial to the children. They reported relevance in oral health prevention and promotion actions carried out in the school environment, observing the generation of autonomy and empowerment in children. They also cited a favorable opinion on the use of Atraumatic Restorative Treatment.

HAART medication and oral health status in children and adolescent HIV infected: A case control study.

The advent of Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy (HAART) does influence the overall oral health care of children. The children undergoing HAART have shown an increase in caries activity owing to sugars in medicines to make them more palatable. The aim of the study was to assess and compare the Oral Health of Children Living with HIV/AIDS (CLHAs) and Adolescents Living with HIV/AIDS (ALHAs) undergoing HAART and those who are HAART-naïve. This study was carried out at different Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO's) across Kerala, India. The study group consisted of 150 HIV-infected children aged 6-18 years. They were divided into two groups. Group 1 comprised of children prior to onset of HAART and Group 2 included children who had been on HAART for more than 3 years (HAART naïve). The assessment of dental caries status and dental plaque status was done. The observations were tabulated and statistically analyzed. On Statistical Analysis, significant difference was noted between the groups with the Group 1(2.26±0.58;p value=.000*) showing higher scores of dental plaque and a significant difference was also observed with respect to dental caries scores with DMFT and dmft scores higher in Group 2(dmft 2.08±2.85; p value=.001* and DMFT 4.10±1.71;p value=.003*). It was concluded that oral hygiene conditions were poor in children with HIV, with dental plaque scores more in HAART-naïve which may be due to their lesser visits and reinforcements regarding oral hygiene from a dentist and dental caries score more in HAART group, this may be attributed to the hidden sugars present in HAART medications to make it more palatable. Early recognition and management of oral conditions are important to improve the quality of life for these children.

Assessment of knowledge, attitude, and behavior related to children's oral health in pediatricians and students in the pediatric field in Iran: a cross-sectional study.

Pediatricians have an important role to play in motivating and instructing parents on oral health in children. The aim of this study was to assess knowledge of, attitude to, and behavior regarding oral health care in children among pediatricians and students in the pediatric field in Iran. This cross-sectional study included all students in the pediatric field (those who had started a residency or fellowship) and practicing pediatricians in provincial centers and universities (61 setting centers) throughout Iran in the course of 2021. Participants completed an online questionnaire assessing details of the parameters of knowledge of, attitude to, and behavior toward oral health for each individual. A convenience sampling technique was used to gather the study sample. All data were coded for each of the parameters. The data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA (Analysis of Variance)/Tukey and Pearson's correlation tests and path analysis. Out of 582 participants who visited the website, a total of 217 completed the entire questionnaire (participation rate of 37.2%). On the attitude parameter, 84.8% of participants scored above 75% of the possible attainable score, while only 37.9% and 48.1% of them had adequate knowledge and behavior for the possible score, respectively. Specialists had a higher mean score on behavior and knowledge than residents (P=0.001). There was a significant correlation between the scores on attitude and behavior (r=0.42, P<0.001), attitude and knowledge (r=0.19, P=0.005), and behavior and knowledge (r=0.25, P<0.001). Nearly all of the participants, 216 (99.5%), felt the need for the principles of dentistry to be included in the curriculum. Pediatricians showed a favorable attitude to oral health, but their knowledge of and behavior in the field was inadequate. Improvement of pediatricians' interest and performance in oral health in children should be encouraged through the inclusion of these parameters in the curriculum for students of the pediatric field. Implementing training programs for practical pediatricians or incorporating independent theoretical and clinical courses offered by pediatric dentists in dental school departments into the field curriculum of the students in the pediatric field is recommended.

Access to restorative oral health care for children living in Illinois with Medicaid vs private dental insurance: An audit study

BackgroundPublic dental insurance programs for children aim to provide access to care, but barriers remain that preclude care delivery. Understanding these barriers is an important health policy concern. MethodsA telephone audit sought to ascertain availability of oral health care for children in dental offices eligible to bill Medicaid. Female callers posing as mothers called eligible offices requesting appointments. In this cross-over design, offices were randomized to public or private insurance for initial calls and then to the other condition after a washout period. ResultsUsing mixed models, privately insured patients had 5.9 times (95% CI, 4.55 to 7.69) greater odds of obtaining an appointment than Medicaid patients. Compared with patients in Cook County, suburban patients had slightly better odds, whereas nonurban patients in larger and smaller rural counties had lower odds of success. ConclusionsMedicaid compares poorly with private insurance for providing access to pediatric oral health care. Regardless of insurance conditions, access is poor in less urban environments compared with metropolitan communities. Practical ImplicationsEven Medicaid-enrolled dental practices limit the care they extend to insured children. Providing Medicaid by itself cannot overcome large oral health care access disparities, which are greatest in rural communities.

Parent's Attitudes toward Their Children's Oral Health Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted global health and presented challenges to maintaining oral health in children. Efficient management and prevention of oral diseases are therefore crucial in this population. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess parents' self-reported oral and dental hygiene habits for their children during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 256 parents of primary school children in Qazvin completed an online questionnaire containing demographic, general, and cardinal questions. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 22 software, and accurate analytical tests were run to reach the results. The study found that 69.1% of parents and 87.1% of children brushed their teeth regularly during the pandemic. Additionally, 80.5% of parents monitored their children while brushing. While some parents expressed concerns about COVID-19 infection, parents from lower socioeconomic status reported a higher willingness to attend dental centers than those from more prosperous areas. These findings suggest that parents' supervision and attitude toward oral health care significantly affect children's oral hygiene habits during the pandemic, possibly due to increased time spent together during lockdowns.

Preventive program based on multiple intelligences to promote oral health in disabled children from Chiclayo, Peru

Introduction: Children with physical disabilities often present deficient oral hygiene and eating habits that threaten optimal oral health. Objective: To evaluate the result of a preventive program based on multiple intelligences to pro-mote oral health care in children with physical disabilities in Chiclayo - Peru. Materials and Methods: A quasi-experimental, quan-titative, prospective and longitudinal study was carried out from the year 2020, to test a preventive intervention based on multiple intelligences (MI), comparing it with an intervention with traditional methodology, whose purpose was in both cases promote preventive oral health care in 167 boys and girls with physical disabilities from four Special Basic Education Centers (CEBES) in Chiclayo. For the pre- and post-test evaluation using a dental record of oral hygiene practices, oral hygiene index and dietary exposure to sugary carbohydrates, the Mann Whitney U test was required, with a confidence level of 95%. Results: After not very encouraging findings in the pretest for both groups, significant changes were observed in the posttest in favor of the IM-based program, for which 58% of schoolchildren registered an adequate oral hygiene index, 69.2% brushed twice to three times a day and that only 35.8% present regular exposure to carbohydrates. Statistical significance was evidenced in favor of the MI-based intervention for the three indicated variables (p= 0.000). Conclusions: The application of the IM-based program achieved better results in the significant promotion of oral hygiene practices with a favorable record of the IHO and by reducing the exposure to carbohydrates in a vulnerable population. Keywords: Health promotion; Oral health; Preventive dentistry; Health education; Children with disabilities.

Rural-urban disparities in knowledge, attitude, and practice toward child oral health among mothers of 9-36-month-old children.

Objective: To assess and compare the knowledge, attitude, and practice of mothers of pre-school children in urban and rural areas toward maintaining child oral health. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted in a convenient sample of 400 mothers of pre-school children (aged 9 months to 3 years) visiting the outpatient department of the Department of Dentistry, Shyam Shah Medical College, Rewa (M.P), India between February 1 and April 21, 2022. The study sample was divided into two groups based on whether they belonged to a rural area (Group A) or urban area (Group B). Group A included 236 participants, and Group B 186 participants. They were served a 24-item questionnaire to assess and compare their knowledge, attitude, and practice toward child oral health. The data were represented as mean and proportions, and a student t test and analysis of variance were performed. Results: In Group A and Group B, 93.64% and 98.17% mothers respectively had the knowledge of cariogenic food. While 66.10% of mothers in Group A and 73.78% in Group B were aware that regular cleaning of teeth protects against tooth decay, only 5.49% of mothers in Group B and none in Group A reported taking their children to routine dental visits; the majority (94.07% in Group A and 78.05% in Group B) had never taken their children to the dentist. Urban background was significantly associated with better knowledge, attitude, and practice scores. Mother's' age and education level were significantly associated with better Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice scores in both groups. Conclusion: Mothers can play an important role in promoting positive attitudes and healthy practices toward oral health care in children. Knowledge, attitude, and practice score were found to be significantly low in mothers who belonged to the rural subgroup.

Evaluation of the Behavioral Determinants of Infant Oral Hygiene Practices in a Rural Area.

Background Dental caries is one of the most common oral health diseases in children. Early childhood caries (ECC) in children can lead to delayed overall growth in the future. This can be prevented by early initiation of infant oral hygiene practices (IOHP). As mothers are the primary caregivers, assessing their behavioral factors that play a significant role in IOHPcan help design a customized health prevention plan for appropriate infant oral hygiene practices. Methodology A questionnaire based-study was carried out in an Anganwadi(rural child care center in India) of Nagpur region,Central India, for two months. Parents of young children were interviewed about the oral health care of children. The study was planned to evaluate the various methods used by parents to perform IOHP and to identify various behavioral determinants that affect IOHP. An integrative model of behavior change was used to evaluate factors determining the behavioral determinants in performing oral hygiene. Results Out of 144 parents, 105 (72.92%) initiated IOHP immediately after birth. Most of them (76, 52.78%) used a moist cloth to clean the oral cavity. The other methods used were the parent's finger, water, etc. Most of the parents were unaware of commercially available oral wipes.Out of the various factors of behavioral determinants of integrative theory, oral health beliefs, emotional reactions, self-standard, and skills played a significant role in modifying parents' intention to maintain the oral hygiene of young children. There was a direct correlation between the educational qualification of the mother and oral hygiene practices. Conclusion The results of this study reveal an integrative structure that includes factors like oral health beliefs, emotional reactions, self-standard, external support, social norms, and skills that are responsible for the behavior of parents towards oral health care. These factors vary from individual to individual. Modifying these specific behavioral determinants in parents could improve the oral hygiene practices of infants and toddlers. Community-based oral health care programs should be tailormade to target these specific barriers.

Mixed methods evaluation of an oral health education program for pediatric dental, medical and nursing providers.

To evaluate the application of knowledge, attitudes, and skills learned in an oral health education program among pediatric dental and medical residents, and pediatric and family nurse practitioners (PNPs and FNPs). A mixed methods study design included a year-end online survey and focus groups. Eighty participants completed the survey (94%) and seven focus groups were conducted (n = 69) representing each of the four cohorts in 2020-2022. Analysis of variance was used to assess differences in survey responses by dental/medical specialty. Focus group audio recordings were analyzed using Atlas.ti.22 to identify common themes. The program increased knowledge and skills in oral health core competencies and positive attitudes regarding oral health education. All PNPs (100%) and most pediatric medical residents (94%) and FNPs (91%) strongly agreed/agreed that the oral health program led to an increase in screening for early childhood caries, more confidence in applying fluoride varnish and providing oral health anticipatory guidance during patient visits. Most pediatric medical residents, PNPs and FNPS (98%) strongly agreed/agreed that primary care providers should incorporate oral health into their practice and provide referrals to dental professionals as part of well-child visits. The program improved oral health-related knowledge, attitudes and skills among dental and medical primary care providers. Future oral health education programs for health care professionals can use this model to help bridge the gap between dental and primary care and ultimately improve access to preventive oral health care for children and families.

Effectiveness of “Oral Health Care for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Module” in Improving Tooth-Brushing Practice among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia

Introduction: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with behavioural problems which may affect children’s oral health statuses. Caregivers have crucial roles in caring for these children’s oral health. Thus, this study is aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Oral Health Care for Children with ASD (OHASD) Module in improving caregivers’ tooth-brushing difficulties in children ASD. Methods: Quasi-experimental study on caregivers of children with ASD aged 7 to 12 years who were registered at the Psychiatry Clinic Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Kelantan. The sociodemographic data obtained, and behavioural problems were assessed. Tooth-brushing difficulties were evaluated at pre- and six months post-intervention using OHASD Module. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS 26.0. Results: A total of 32 Malay children with ASD including their caregivers participated in this study. Caregivers were mostly mothers (78.1%) and children were mostly boys (84.4%), with mean age (SD) of 39.1 (4.19) and 8.8 (1.52) years respectively. Parent-reported questionnaire using the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) showed 65.6% of children were highly sensitive to noises, 53.1% sometimes stared at nothing or wandered without purpose and 59.4% were unable to imitate caregivers’ faces. Significant differences between pre- and post-intervention for items; children who liked to close their mouths, turn their heads in different directions, did not understand the purpose of tooth-brushing (P&lt;0.05). Conclusion: OHASD Module is useful in assisting caregivers in practising daily tooth-brushing of children with ASD.