Parent's perceptions of dental discomfort and risk factors for dental disregard among day care pupils of a barangay in Ermita, Manila - Cariño, JC Hope D.; Dela Cruz, Czareena Suzzette P.; Ghasemi, Jasmin G.; Mendoza, Nerissa Michelle M.; Rebueno-Santos, Jessica K. (Manila Department of Community Dentistry, University of the Philippines Manila, 2018)
Seminar Paper--Doctor of Dental Medicine--University of the Philippines Manila
INTRODUCTION: Oral health is an important part of general health. It is essential that parents' oral health knowledge and practices are correct and sufficient since it will influence the oral health knowledge and practices of the child. Parents' choice of dentist is an essential factor to instil children's compliance to dental treatment. The study aimed to determine parents' oral health knowledge, practices and the determinants affecting their preference for their child's dentist.
METHODS: Self-administered questionnaires were given to parents of 1st and 6th grade school children in a private and public school in the 5th district of the City of Manila to obtain their perceived oral health knowledge, practices and the determinants affecting their preference for their child?s dentist. Results were collated using MS Excel.
RESULTS: The results of the study showed that parents described their as well as their child?s oral condition to be good despite having dental concerns. A considerable number of subjects performed oral hygiene practices on a need basis. They focused on the work rather than social interactions and the clinical setting during appointments. No significant difference exists between the knowledge and practices of parents from the public school from that of the private school, except on their reason for not visiting the dentist.
CONCLUSION: Parents' oral health knowledge and practices were relatively satisfactory. The parents presented higher preference for the characteristics of the dentist over that of the clinic.
Keywords: Caregiver; Dentist-patient relations; Dental caries