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Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine infant oral health knowledge and readiness of expectant mothers to incorporate preventive oral health behaviors for their infants. Methods: The study used a prospective cohort design to examine the effect of prenatal education and motivational counseling with expectant mothers about infant oral health care readiness. Participants were all enrolled in a prenatal care program called Centering Pregnancy offered by VCU’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. They all completed a pre-survey questionnaire, followed by a motivational counseling intervention, and then completed a post-survey questionnaire. Results: A sample of 30 pregnant women completed the pre- and post-survey. The participants were predominantly white (60%) who had finished college (67%) with an average age of 28.8 years. Based on the analysis of the readiness (RAPIDD scale) responses, the participants showed an improvement in their value for dental health with a p-value illustrating a significant overall change between the pre and post surveys (p < .02). The results for the knowledge portion of the survey demonstrated an increase in their infant oral health education, showing a significant change across time (p < .0001). The results to the last portion of the pre and post survey illustrated that the participants learned at what age to establish a dental home for their infant. Conclusion: This study has shown that with the proper educational tools parents are able to accept and improve their knowledge related to infant oral health and the prevention of early childhood caries.

Objectives: To determine access to dental care among preschool children of Arabic-speaking immigrant families; to investigate the influence of social and cultural factors on access to dental care; and to measure preschool children’s oral health as reported by their parents. Methods: This survey used a semi-structured questionnaire to interview 100 Arabic-speaking parents of children under the age of 5 who were identified from community centres. Five scales were used to measure acculturation, social capital, oral health literacy, oral health knowledge, and health literacy. Results: Only 34% of families had visited the dentist to obtain dental care for their preschool children. Nineteen-percent of Arabic parents in our sample rated their children’s oral health as being fair or poor. None of the scales used in this study had a significant impact on access to dental care; however, higher scores on these scales tended to be associated with better access to dental care.

Objectives: To determine access to dental care among preschool children of Arabic-speaking immigrant families; to investigate the influence of social and cultural factors on access to dental care; and to measure preschool children’s oral health as reported by their parents. Methods: This survey used a semi-structured questionnaire to interview 100 Arabic-speaking parents of children under the age of 5 who were identified from community centres. Five scales were used to measure acculturation, social capital, oral health literacy, oral health knowledge, and health literacy. Results: Only 34% of families had visited the dentist to obtain dental care for their preschool children. Nineteen-percent of Arabic parents in our sample rated their children’s oral health as being fair or poor. None of the scales used in this study had a significant impact on access to dental care; however, higher scores on these scales tended to be associated with better access to dental care.

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A thesis submitted to the College of Dental Medicine of Nova Southeastern University of the degree of Master of Science in Dentistry. Goal and Objectives. The main goal of this study is to assess childcare center directors (CCCDs) oral health literacy, knowledge, and attitudes towards pediatric oral health. We also determined the associations between CCCDs oral health literacy, knowledge, attitudes towards pediatric oral health, and 1) number of oral health preventive strategies (OHPS) implemented in their child care center (CCC), and 2) intent to adopt OHPS in the future. Background. Childcare utilization has substantially increased over the past decade with children enrolled in these centers spending substantial amount of time. CCCs, a non-traditional setting, can be used to actively promote pediatric oral health. However, before this setting can be used to promote oral health, a better understanding of Florida CCCDs' oral health literacy, knowledge, and attitudes on pediatric oral health is needed. Methods. In this cross-sectional study we used a 45-item pre-tested questionnaire to survey Florida CCCDs working primarily in licensed CCCs through survey monkey online portal. Descriptive, bivariate statistics and multivariate regression analyses were conducted using SAS analysis software. Results. Of the 877 CCCD participants, 90% did not train staff about traumatic dental injuries, 87% did not have an oral health consultant, and 82% did not promote enrollees to brush their teeth after meals or snacks. Mean oral health literacy (12.3±2.3) and attitude levels (16.8±2.7) were high, however mean oral health knowledge (1.6±2.0) was low. CCCDs with more years of experience (p=0.01), who work at Head Start CCCs ( p<0.0001), and have more positive attitudes (p<0.0001), were more likely to have implemented OHPS in their centers compared to their counterparts. Non-White CCCDs (p=0.03), those with more positive attitudes(p=0.001), and who reported to have already implemented one or more OHPS (p=0.002) were more willing to implement OHPS in the future compared to their counterparts. Conclusions. No significant associations between oral health literacy, knowledge and number of OHPS implemented were observed. Similarly, oral health literacy, oral health knowledge was not associated with intent to implement OHPS in the future. CCCDs with more positive attitudes towards pediatric oral health had implemented more OHPS within their CCCs, and also were willing to implement more OHPS in the future compared to their counterparts.

nivel de conocimiento de los padres según edad se obtuvo significancia estadistica de p=0.012 y respecto a sexo no se obtuvo significacia estadistica con un p=0,337, el grado de instrucción y ocupación tuvieron significancia estadística en ambos con un p=0.00, la asociacion entre higiene oral de niños y sexo obtuvo significancia estadistica con valor de p=0.006, asi mismo según edad con valor de p=0.042. Se demostró la relación entre el nivel de conocimiento de los padres y la higiene bucal de sus hijos con habilidades diferentes en las tres CEBES de la región Lambayeque. / The objective of the study was to determine the relationship between the level of knowledge of parents about oral health and the oral hygiene index of their children with different abilities in Lambayeque, 2023. The study was analytical, cross-sectional, observational and correlational. A total of 150 students and their parents from three Special Basic Education Centers in Lambayeque participated. A validated questionnaire was used on the parents and a clinical examination was performed on the children applying the simplified oral hygiene index, the data were recorded in an Excel database. The data were analyzed using the Chi-Square test. Statistical significance was obtained between the level of knowledge of parents about oral health and the oral hygiene index with a value of p=0.00, regarding the association between the level of knowledge of parents according to age, statistical significance was obtained with p=0.012 and regarding sex, no statistical significance was obtained with p=0.012 and with respect to sex, statistical significance was not obtained with a p=0.337, the degree of education and occupation had statistical significance in both with a p=0.00, the association between oral hygiene of children and sex obtained statistical significance with a value of p=0.006, likewise according to age with a value of p= 0.042. The relationship between the level of knowledge of parents and the oral hygiene of their children with different abilities is demonstrated in the three CEBES of the Lambayeque region.

Aim: The aim of this project was to find the level of oral health literacy of parents of preschool age children regarding their child’s oral health. The primary objective was to improve the oral health status of preschoolers and to prevent early childhood caries. Methods: 117 participants (parents of preschoolers) completed a self-administered oral health literacy questionnaire. Data obtained from the study was analysed using a statistical package (SPSS). Firstly, descriptive analysis was undertaken generating tables and graphs of sociodemographic variables. Later, associations between oral health literacy and sociodemographic variables were identified and also relation between parents’ oral health literacy and their attitude towards water fluoridation in Christchurch was identified using bivariate and multivariate analysis. Psychometric analysis was generated to test validity and reliability of the oral health literacy questionnaire. Results: In the total sample, 38% of participants had poor oral health literacy regarding their child’s oral health. The results also indicated that there were associations present between parents’ oral health literacy and socio-demographic variables such as ethnicity, education and family income. Nearly half of the parents opted for water fluoridation in Christchurch. A strong association between parents’ oral health literacy and their attitude towards water fluoridation was identified. In the total sample, 40% of parents were not aware of need for first dental visit before the school age. Reliability was good for the developed oral health literacy instrument. Conclusions: This study of parents’ oral health literacy in Christchurch, New Zealand identified association of oral health literacy and socio-demographic variables which gives future guidance to improving oral health status of New Zealand children. The relation 6 between parents’ oral health literacy and their attitude towards water fluoridation was shown in this study. This result might be used in future water fluoridation surveys. Future studies are needed to examine health care provider’s perspective in improving parents’ oral health literacy and to tailor more effective public health interventions to improve parents’ oral health literacy.