title: Parental Perceptions of Oral Health Status in Preschool Children and Associated Factors.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to evaluate parental perceptions of oral health status in preschool children. A cross-sectional study was carried with 843 Brazilian children between 3 and 5 years of age. Parents/guardians answered a self-administered questionnaire on the health of their children and sociodemographic data. Parental perceptions of their child's oral health were determined by the responses to the following question: "How would you describe your child's oral health?" The Brazilian version of the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (B-ECOHIS) was answered by parents/guardians and used to measure the impact of oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) on preschool children and their families. Three examiners performed oral exams on the children (K= 0.85-0.90). Descriptive analytical statistics were carried out, followed by logistic regression for complex samples (α=5%). The following variables were significantly associated with parental perceptions of children's oral health: parental perception of general health as poor (OR=18.25; 95% CI: 3.36-98.96), negative impact on family's OHRQoL (OR=13.82; 95% CI: 4.27-44.72), child aged five years (OR=7.40; 95% CI: 1.49-36.63) and the interaction between history of toothache and dental caries (OR=10.02; 95% CI: 1.17-85.61). Thus, parental perceptions of oral health are influenced only by clinical conditions with symptoms, such as dental caries with toothache. Other oral conditions, such as malocclusion or traumatic dental injury, were not associated with parental perceptions of their child's oral health.
authors: Post-graduation Program in Dentistry, Universidade Estadual da Paraiba, Campina Grande, PB, BR.
authors: Monalisa Cesarino
authors: MC
authors: Gomes
authors: Post-graduation Program in Dentistry, Universidade Estadual da Paraiba, Campina Grande, PB, BR.
authors: Marayza Alves
authors: MA
authors: Clementino
authors: Post-graduation Program in Dentistry, Universidade Estadual da Paraiba, Campina Grande, PB, BR.
authors: Tassia Cristina de Almeida
authors: TC
authors: Pinto-Sarmento
authors: Post-graduation Program in Dentistry, Universidade Estadual da Paraiba, Campina Grande, PB, BR.
authors: Edja Maria Melo de Brito
authors: EM
authors: Costa
authors: Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, BR.
authors: Carolina Castro
authors: CC
authors: Martins
authors: Post-graduation Program in Dentistry, Universidade Estadual da Paraiba, Campina Grande, PB, BR.
authors: Ana Flávia
authors: AF
authors: Granville-Garcia
authors: Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, BR.
authors: Saul Martins
authors: SM
authors: Paiva
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life