title: AGE AND REASONS OF THE FIRST DENTAL VISIT OF CHILDREN IN LEBANON.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry have recommended that the child's first dental visit should be during the child's first year of life for dental disease prevention and to decrease the invasive restorative interventions. In Lebanon, no study has been conducted to determine the age and the reasons of the first dental visit of children and who requested the first dental screening.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess at what age occurred the first dental visit in a group of Lebanese children visiting a private pediatric dental clinic and to explore the reasons for their first dental consultation.
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational cross-sectional study was conducted. During a five-year period, all children visiting the pediatric clinic were invited to participate in the study. Parents were asked about the general health status of their child, the use of antibiotics before the age of 2 years. Parents were also requested to give the dental reasons for their initial visit to a pedodontist.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred and twenty children (mean age 4.24 ± 1.35 years) visited the pedodontic care office for the first time and were included in the study. All participants had visited a pediatrician before the age of 1 year. Fifty-seven (25.9%) children were referred by a dentist and 163 (74.1%) came with their parents without referral. All participants had at least one reason for the first consultation; the most common were the presence of decayed teeth (50.9%) and a dental pain perception (29.5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All participants had visited a pediatrician at an earlier age but none was referred to a pedodontist by a pediatrician for check-up or prevention. Children came upon the decision of their parents. A dental problem was the major reason which triggered the first visit. Therefore, pediatricians in Lebanon need to keep themselves updated on recommendations regarding children oral health and be encouraged to play an important role in prompting oral health and first dental visits.
authors.forename: Maha H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Daou
authors.forename: Ece
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eden
authors.forename: Nada
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: El Osta
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007861:Lebanon; D008297:Male; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents