title: Does the Texas First Dental Home Program Improve Parental Oral Care Knowledge and Practices?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the effectiveness of the Texas Medicaid First Dental Home (FDH) by comparing the oral health knowledge, practices, and opinions of participating vs. non-participating parents.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 29-question survey (English & Spanish) was developed and administered to 165 parents of children under three years old (FDH=49, Non-FDH=116) who visited qualifying Medicaid clinics in Texas.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mann Whitney U tests showed that FDH parents scored higher on overall knowledge (P=0.001) and practice scores (P<0.001). FDH parents responded correctly more often than non-FDH about the recommended amount of toothpaste for toddlers (P<0.001). More FDH parents knew tap water was a potential source of fluoride (P<0.001). The FDH parents scored marginally higher about when a child should have the first dental visit (P=0.051). More Non-FDH parents let their child go to sleep with a bottle, sippy cup or pacifier (P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FDH visits are having a positive impact on Texas parents by increasing their oral healthcare knowledge and practices. This is the first step towards improving the oral health of children.
authors.affiliation: Public health practitioner, Su Clinica Familiar, Harlingen, Texas, USA;, Email: charmaine.poreilly@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Charmaine L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.affiliation: Professor and director of planning and assessment, Academic Affairs, Texas A&M College of Dentistry, Dallas, Texas.
authors.forename: Ann L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: McCann
authors.affiliation: Professor, Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M College of Dentistry, Dallas, Texas.
authors.forename: Emet D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Schneiderman
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D019140:Dental Care for Children; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D005260:Female; D006267:Health Education, Dental; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008484:Medicaid; D010290:Parents; D013781:Texas; D014481:United States