Shazia Makhdoom, Manzar Anwar, Sania Ali Malik.
Knowledge and attitude of parents regarding child dental care: a study done at Bacha khan medical college, Mardan.
Pak Oral Dental J Jan ;36(4):595-8.

Primary teeth are important for healthier permanent dentition. Early loss of primary teeth causes many problems including ectopic eruption of permanent teeth, space loss of successors, bad esthetics, speech skill, low self-esteem and poor social interaction. The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge and attitude of parents about dental care for their children under age of 5 years visiting dentistry department of Bacha Khan Medical College, Mardan.This was a descriptive cross sectional study 270 parents formed the study group. Sampling technique was convenience. A questionnaire was filled by parents or care givers regarding level of education, purpose of visit to the hospital, willing or not willing to undergo restorative treatment of child, reason for willingness or unwillingness and age of starting brushing. Among total 270 parents 54 (20%) were uneducated and 216 (80%) were educated, 175 (65%) were mothers and 95 (35%) were fathers. 202 (75%) visited hospital for pain, 55 (20%) visited hospital for pain and swelling, 13 (<10%) visited hospital for pain swelling and fever. 229 (85%) parents responded that it was unnecessary to restorative treatment of primary teeth of their children as these are milk teeth and will shed off sooner or later, 28 (10%) parents responded that they cannot afford and 5 (<10%) gave reason that they don’t have time to go for restorative treatment for deciduous teeth of their children. 67 (25%) children started tooth brushing at the age of 3 at the age of 4 and 136 (50%) of children did not start tooth brushing till the age of 5.Age of starting brushing was 3 years in 25%, 4 years in 25%. 50% of children didn’t start till the age of 5 years. The knowledge and attitude of parents regarding restorative treatment of their children was unfavorable and dental awareness and knowledge was poor.

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