334 - Does parenting style affect the oral health risk factors in age groups 0-3 and 4-6 years old.

Abstract:

Purpose: The purpose was to study the link between different parenting styles and oral health risk factors in children between 0-6 years old. Previous research has focused on the relationship between parenting style and caries risk. However, there is a gap in research that examines how parenting style may also influence periodontal risk. This study will aim to explore whether different parenting styles will influence caries and periodontal risk.

Methods: Surveys were administered to parents of children aged 0-6 years, who were scheduled to have a dental cleaning appointment. The survey consisted of 14 questions designed to classify parenting styles as authoritative, authoritarian, permissive or neglectful. The following information was gathered from the cleaning appointment: the age of the patient (0-6 years), gender, age, race, decayed, filled, and missing surfaces (DFMS), caries risk assessment, periodontal risk assessment, periodontal health and oral hygiene status. Children older than six and those with appointments other than dental cleanings were excluded. A total of 120 participants are expected to be enrolled in this study including parents and their children.



Results: A total of 61 participants were divided into two parenting styles: 30 (49.2%) with authoritarian parenting style and 31 (50.8%) with authoritative parenting style (please see FIGURE 1).

In terms of caries risk level by parenting style, most of the children examined were in the high caries risk category for both parenting style groups (please see FIGURE 2). In the authoritarian parenting style group, 18 child participants were classified as high caries risk, 11 as moderate caries risk, and 1 as low caries risk. In the authoritative parenting style group, 19 participants were classified as high caries risk, 6 as moderate caries risk, and 4 as low caries risk.

With regard to periodontal risk level by parenting style, most of the children examined were in the low periodontal risk category for both parenting style groups (please see FIGURE 3). In the authoritarian parenting style group, 26 child participants were classified as low periodontal risk and 3 as moderate periodontal risk. In the authoritative parenting style group, 28 participants were classified as low periodontal risk and 1 as moderate periodontal risk. Overall, periodontal risk was low for the children aged 0-6 years in this study.





Conclusion: While data collection and analysis are still in progress, this study is expected to reveal the relationship between parenting style and pediatric oral health outcomes. It is hypothesized that children raised by authoritative parents will have lower levels of caries and periodontal risk, whereas children of authoritarian parents will have higher levels of caries and periodontal risk. These findings may influence pediatric dentists’ approaches to preventive care and patient education.

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