Demographic characteristics, oral health knowledge and practices of mothers of children aged 5 years and under referred for extraction of teeth under general anaesthesia

Abstract

AIMS: To examine the demographic characteristics, oral health knowledge and practices of mothers of children who required the extraction of teeth under general anaesthesia. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study using questionnaires completed at interview. SAMPLE: 150 mothers of children age 5 years and under who had been referred for extraction of teeth under general anaesthesia. SETTING: Dental School, University of Wales College of Medicine. RESULTS: Over three-quarters of mothers had finished their full-time education at or before the age of 16 years. Although generally well-informed about the causes of caries, mothers were less sure of preventative methods. There was a widespread ignorance of the causes and prevention of periodontal disease, with just under half of the sample being unable to identify any causative or preventive factors. 40% of the sample admitted to attending a dentist only when in pain or not at all.