Remembering and repeating childhood dental treatment experiences: parents, their children, and barriers to dental care.
BACKGROUND
Despite improvements over the past two decades, caries and its treatment remain a problem for Scottish children.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate how the reported childhood dental care experiences of a group of Scottish parents impacted upon the dental treatment they accessed for their children.


METHODS
In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 parents of varied age and social background whose children were referred to Dundee Dental Hospital for the assessment of dental extractions. Parents were encouraged to discuss their own and their child's experiences of dental care. The interview data were systematically coded using key theme headings, and summary charts constructed to facilitate the analysis.


RESULTS
A sense of 'uneasiness' pervaded the parents' comments and perceptions of the dental care provided for their children. This was conceptualized as parents 'remembering in words' and 'repeating through actions' their own childhood dental experiences. They remembered and repeated their childhood experiences by delaying dental treatment for themselves and their children.


CONCLUSIONS
Acknowledging the influence of parental dental experience would help ensure that parents of young children access routine care for their children and themselves.
Oral Health and Health Research Programme, Dental Health Services & Research Unit, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK. p.a.smith@cpse.dundee.ac.uk
Patricia Anne
PA
Smith
Ruth
R
Freeman
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D003729:Dental Care / Q000523:psychology; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000523:psychology*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000523:psychology; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D012606:Scotland; D012923:Social Class; D014081:Tooth Extraction; D014098:Toothache / Q000523:psychology