title: Predictors of dental visits among primary school children in the rural Australian community of Lithgow.
abstract: Regular dental attendance is significant in maintaining and improving children's oral health and well-being. This study aims to determine the factors that predict and influence dental visits in primary school children residing in the rural community of Lithgow, New South Wales (NSW), Australia.
  
  
  
  All six primary schools of Lithgow were approached to participate in a cross-sectional survey prior to implementing water fluoridation in 2014. Children aged 6-13 years (n = 667) were clinically examined for their oral health status and parents were requested to complete a questionnaire on fluoride history, diet, last dental visit, and socio-demographic characteristics. Multiple logistic regression analyses were employed to examine the independent predictors of a 6-monthly and a yearly dental visit.
  
  
  
  Overall, 53% of children visited a dentist within six months and 77% within twelve months. In multiple logistic regression analyses, age of the child and private health insurance coverage were significantly associated with both 6-monthly and twelve-month dental visits. In addition, each serve of chocolate consumption was significantly associated with a 27% higher odds (OR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.05-1.54) of a 6-monthly dental visit.
  
  
  
  It is imperative that the socio-demographic and dietary factors that influence child oral health must be effectively addressed when developing the oral health promotion policies to ensure better oral health outcomes.
authors.affiliation: School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: James Rufus
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: John
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Research, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Haider
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mannan
authors.affiliation: School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Subrat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nargundkar
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Centre, Sydney Local Health District, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: D'Souza
authors.affiliation: Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
authors.forename: Loc Giang
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Do
authors.affiliation: School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia. a.arora@westernsydney.edu.au.|Oral Health Services and Sydney Dental Hospital, Sydney Local Health District, Surry Hills, NSW, Australia. a.arora@westernsydney.edu.au.|Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, Sydney Medical School, Westmead, NSW, Australia. a.arora@westernsydney.edu.au.|Collaboration for Oral Health Outcomes Research, Translation, and Evaluation (COHORTE) Research Group, Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW, Australia. a.arora@westernsydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arora
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003710:Demography; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000628:therapy*; D003815:Dentists / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004037:Diet, Cariogenic / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005457:Fluoridation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009517:New South Wales; D010290:Parents; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Dental visit; Oral health; Rural; School children; Socio-demographics