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Preventive

240 - Parental Knowledge About Oral Health of Children Visiting BronxCare Dental Clinic

Saturday, May 23, 2026
10:30 AM - 10:45 AM PST
Has Audio
Abstract:


Purpose: Dental caries is the most common chronic childhood disease, disproportionately

affecting low-income populations due to barriers such as poor health literacy and low socio-economic status. Parental attitude, self-efficacy, and intention have a strong correlation to oral hygiene practices in children. This study assessed the oral health knowledge of the parents of children aged 0 to 14 years visiting BronxCare Pediatric Dental clinic.







Methods: A cross-sectional survey of legal guardians of children aged 0 to 14 years was conducted

using a validated 13-item questionnaire based on AAPD guidelines. Responses (N=243) were

analyzed using Chi-square goodness-of-fit tests to validate distribution significance (P < .05).





Results: Consensus was high for routine 6-month visits (96%, P < .001) and initiating brushing

upon tooth eruption (93%, P < .001). However, 52% of parents were unsure about guidelines for

systemic fluoride supplementation (P < .001). Significant discordance existed regarding the need to restore primary teeth: 59%

correctly disagreed that baby teeth should only be filled if painful (P < .001), while 41% were

incorrect or unsure. Opinions were polarized on whether utensil sharing increases caries risk

(48% Agree vs. 44% Disagree), highlighting conflicting beliefs regarding bacterial transmission. Final results are pending the collection of 121 surveys to fulfill the target sample size.





Conclusion: While caregivers understood good oral hygiene practices and frequency of dental visits, significant

misconceptions persist regarding fluoride, bacterial transmission, and the need to restore primary teeth. Targeted

education is essential to address these gaps and improve clinical outcomes.



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