Dental health of 5-year-old children and parents' perceptions for oral health in the prefectures of Athens and Piraeus in the Attica County of Greece.
OBJECTIVE
This study was undertaken in 2001 in order to investigate the dental health status of 5-year-olds in an urban community within Attica County in Greece and the views of the carers of this age group.


METHODS
Three hundred and forty-five nursery children were examined, using the WHO methods and criteria. Parents' views were recorded in a questionnaire.


RESULTS
Overall, 48.4% had some experience of dental decay. The mean dmft of the whole study population was 2.6, whereas the mean dmft of the subjects with active decay was 5.4; in these cases untreated decay was the highest component (mean dt = 5.0). A questionnaire using phone calls to the children's homes achieved a 100% response rate. Ninety-five per cent of parents thought that a child should visit the dentist at this early age and 79.5% of responders answered that they had already visited the dentist with their child for different reasons. Three-quarters (75.4%) of parents had received information about fluoride, whereas 72.5% answered that did not use any type of fluoride for their child at home. It was reported that 63.5% of children ate snacks, sweets, cakes, biscuits, and gums between the main meals of the day and 31% of the subjects more than once per day.


CONCLUSIONS
Caries indicies were higher from the National 2003-4 survey and were attributed to the increasing number of immigrants in some areas. The population under investigation had the appropriate information for the prevention of dental decay but they appear to maintain unhealthy behaviours in their everyday living.
Kalyvas
D I
DI
Department of Dental Public Health, Guy's, King's & St Thomas Dental Institute, University of London, UK. lygidakis@ath.forthnet.gr
Taylor
C M
CM
Michas
V
V
Lygidakis
N A
NA
D001294:Attitude to Health; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004245:DMF Index; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires