Dental avoidance behaviour in parent and child as risk indicators for caries in 5-year-old children.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to explore associations between avoidance behaviour and dental anxiety in both parents and children and caries experience in 5-year-old children. It was hypothesised that parents' dental avoidance behaviour and dental anxiety were related to dental caries in 5-year-old children.


METHODS
Data were collected from dental records and by clinical and radiographic examination of 523 children. The parents completed a questionnaire regarding education, national background, dental anxiety, dental attendance, and behaviour management problems. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was conducted.


RESULTS
Children having one or more missed dental appointments (OR = 4.7), child behaviour management problems (OR = 3.3), child dental anxiety (OR = 3.1), and parents avoiding dental care (OR = 2.1) were bivariately associated with caries experience at the age of 5 years. In multivariate logistic regression, having one or more missed dental appointments (OR = 4.0) and child behaviour management problems (OR = 2.4) were indicators for dental caries in 5-year-old children, when controlling for parents education and national origin.


CONCLUSIONS
Parents that avoid bringing their child to scheduled dental appointments and previous experiences of behaviour management problems for the child indicated risk for dental caries in 5-year-old children.
Wigen
Tove I
TI
Department of Paediatric Dentistry and Behavioural Science, Institute of Clinical Dentistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
Skaret
Erik
E
Wang
Nina J
NJ
D001362:Avoidance Learning; D002652:Child Behavior; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires