Five questions about Streptococcus mutans: theoretical study of its transmission and colonisation

Dental Health Status and Oral Health Care in Nursery School-Aged Children and their Parents Living in Poznan (Poland)

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to evaluate the dental health status of nursery age children and parents. The use of dental services was assessed.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

The study was performed in nursery schools located in Poznan, Western Poland. Clinical examination was carried out in 157 children (48.41% males and 51.59% females), aged 10-42 months. Dental health status (the number of teeth with caries, fillings and extracted) of their parents was determined on the basis of data obtained from a questionnaire. The questions also concerned information on child's and parents' dental check-ups and opinion on their predisposition to dental caries.

RESULTS

Clinical examination revealed that 21.05% of boys and 18.51% of girls had dental caries. Most mothers had from 1 to 5 either carious and/or filled teeth (47.13%) or extracted teeth due to carious process (61.15%); the fathers' values were similar at 46.50 and 66.24%, respectively. More mothers (84.71%) than fathers (72.62%) had regular dental check-ups (p = 0.02). The analysis of mother-father-child triads showed that when both parents visited the dentist regularly, more children were free of caries (56.68%) in comparison to those with the disease (13.38%; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that the dental health status, as well as oral care of nursery school children and their parents, is unsatisfactory. Therefore, there is a need to introduce an intensive dental educational program focusing on dental prophylaxis for nursery age children and their parents or caregivers.