Attitudes to dental care among parents of uncooperative vs. cooperative child dental patients

Abstract

The aim of this cross-sectional questionnaire study was to investigate four aspects of parents' attitudes to dental care (knowledge, child's oral health behavior, priorities and responsibility). One study group (n = 50) of parents of uncooperative child dental patients (aged 8-12 yr) was compared to a reference group (n = 113) of parents of ordinary child dental patients of similar age, and to a second study group (n = 36) of parents of uncooperative younger child patients (aged 4-7 yr). Study group parents had significantly lower socio-economic status and a higher level of dental fear as compared to parents of ordinary child patients. We found indications of a poorer dental knowledge and a differing responsibility-taking profile among study group parents. Their children also had sweets more often. As compared to parents of younger children, the older study group parents had lower socio-economic status and showed a lower responsibility-taking related to the child's treatment refusal. In conclusion, parents of uncooperative children differ from parents of ordinary child dental patients, not only in socio-economic status and dental fear, but also in aspects such as dental knowledge and responsibility-taking. These differences were partly related to the child's age.