Resumo

SANTOS, Yara Mendes dos; RAMOS-JORGE, Maria Letícia; PAIVA, Saul Martins  e  FERREIRA, Meire Coelho. Assessment of knowledge and practices of the parents regarding the oral health of three to nine-year-old children: a pilot study. Arq. Odontol. [online]. 2011, vol.47, n.4, pp. 219-229. ISSN 1516-0939.

Aim: The aim of this pilot study was to assess the knowledge and practices of parents regarding the oral health of children between three and nine years of age treated at a private dental office. Materials and Methods: The sample consisted of 21 children/parents. Data collection was performed through a clinical examination of the children and a self-administered questionnaire for parents during dental appointments. The data were submitted to descriptive analyses as well as to the chi-squared test and Fisher's exact test (a < 0.05). Results: "Not brushing" was considered the causal factor of dental caries and periodontal disease among 85.7% and 100% of the guardians, respectively. Only 14.3% of the guardians considered diet as affecting dental health; 57% could not state the function of fluoride, and 52.4% could not state what products contained fluoride. Among 57% of the children, oral hygiene was performed by the guardian. However, only 38% of the guardians placed the toothpaste on the brush. Ninety percent of the children consumed sugar more than three times a week, and 47.6% of this consumption occurred during the main meals. A significant association was found between "guardian duly employed or not" and "frequency of child's oral hygiene" as well as between "monthly household income" and "frequency of child's oral hygiene" (p = 0.030 and 0.032, respectively). Conclusion: Although the guardians had contact with the dentist and their children were under dental treatment, their knowledge regarding oral health was superficial, both in terms of causal factors of the most prevalent oral diseases and hygiene products. Educativepreventive actions need to be built on solid bases so that knowledge offered to guardians/children may enable the establishment of consistent, safe practices for the maintenance and/or acquisition of oral health.

Palavras-chave : Private practice.; Oral health.; Parents.; Child..