Resumo

NAIR, Brenton G  e  SINGH, Shenuka. Parental perspectives on self-care practices and dental sealants as preventive measures for dental caries. S. Afr. dent. j. [online]. 2016, vol.71, n.4, pp.156-160. ISSN 0375-1562.

The oral health behaviour of children is increasingly seen to be driven and shaped by parental influences. AIM AND OBJECTIVES: The study set out to explore parental understanding of dental caries, self-care practices, and dental sealants as preventive strategies for dental caries. METHODS: This was an explorative and cross-sectional study. The participants were parents/care-givers (n=295) of grade one learners. Twelve schools were selected from the Chatsworth Circuit, KwaZulu-Natal, using a systematic sampling technique. Information was obtained through the use of a self-administered questionnaire and focus group discussions. RESULTS: Seventy-four percent of respondents reported that unhealthy deciduous teeth can lead to problems when permanent teeth develop (p<0.001). Although the majority of respondents understood the role of diet and self-care practices, almost 80% of these respondents did not floss and 70% did not use a mouth rinse. Sixty-five percent were aware of dental sealants and these parents were twice as likely to be willing to have sealant placements performed on their children than those parents who were unaware of the procedure (OR 2.32, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Parental knowledge and awareness of oral health self-care practices does appear to translate into support for dental sealants as a preventive strategy for dental caries.

Palavras-chave : parental knowledge and attitudes; oral health; dental sealants; dental caries; South Africa.

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