title: Parental knowledge of pre-school child oral health.
abstract: The dental health of preschool children has extensive implications on the oral heath of the individual as he grows into an adult. Parents/guardians of preschool children play a central role in enforcing proper oral hygiene and preventive regime in these children. This study was conducted with the aim of describing the views of parents/guardians about the dental health of pre-school children. Response was obtained on a 21 point questionnaire from randomly visiting parents of the outpatient section of Rajah Muthiah dental college and Hospital, Annamalainagar, India. The findings of the present study point towards poor awareness among the parents/guardians of preschool children, pertaining to their childs' oral health and this could directly translate to poor oral health among the children in this area.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Rajah Muthiah Dental College and Hospital, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar, Chidambaram, 608002, Tamil Nadu, India. dranandprabhu@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Anand
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prabhu
authors.forename: Arun Prasad
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Venugopal
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: Syed Shaheed
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Ahamed
authors.forename: Shameer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muhammad
authors.forename: Shanmugam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thayumanavan
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000523:psychology; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000523:psychology; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010465:Perception; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous
chemical_list: D005459:Fluorides