Introduction

During the last few decades, contemporary dentistry has developed toward the prevention of oral diseases.  The dental prevention therapy should start early in a child’s life^1,2 as the available data about caries in primary teeth in 3-5 year old children is relatively high.^3-5  Epidemiological studies carried out in Saudi Arabia revealed an increase in the prevalence of dental caries.^6-8  In 2001, Wyne et al.⁷ found the number of decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) in primary school children in Riyadh to be 6.3 (± 3.5).  However, the need for early intervention to reduce or eliminate oral disease and the lack of awareness by children of the need for oral health mandate the involvement of the parents in the prevention process for their children.

Several studies have correlated the parents’ oral status and attitudes toward dentistry with their children’s oral status.  It has been found the more positive the parents’ attitudes are toward dentistry, the better the dental health of their children.^9-11  A survey carried out in 10 regions of Saudi Arabia revealed over 80% of those aged 65-74 years claimed they do not brush their teeth with a toothbrush, but over two-thirds of them use miswak (a wooden tooth-cleaning stick).¹²

A parent’s knowledge and positive attitude toward good dental care are very important in the preventive cycle.  The prevention of dental caries in children is important to avoid premature loss of the primary teeth and to decrease the risk of future dental caries in the permanent teeth.¹³  One of the preventive methods for children is the early dental visit.  The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends the first dental visit occur within six months of the eruption of the first primary tooth and no later than twelve months of age.²  In a previous study, it was reported Saudi parents have a low level of knowledge about the timing of their children’s first dental visit.¹⁴

The purpose of this study was to assess the Saudi parents’ attitudes in relation to factors such as age, gender, and number of children toward the timing of the first dental visit for their children and the need for behavior modification during that visit.  Collecting such information may be beneficial to plan and implement a comprehensive oral health education program for Saudi parents.

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Citation Number: Vol. 4, No. 4, Page 055