Correlating parenting styles with child behavior and caries.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the relationship between parenting style, sociodemographic data, caries status, and child's behavior during the first dental visit.

METHODS

Parents/legal guardians of new patients aged three to six years presenting to Nationwide Children's Hospital dental clinic for an initial examination/hygiene appointment completed the Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire (PSDQ) to assess parenting style and a 15-question demographic survey. Blinded and calibrated expanded function dental auxiliaries or dental hygienists (EFDA/DH) performed a prophylaxis and assessed child behavior using the Frankl scale (inter-rater reliability was 92 percent). A blinded and calibrated dentist performed an oral examination.

RESULTS

132 parent/child dyads participated. Children with authoritative parents exhibited more positive behavior (P<.001) and less caries (P<.001) compared to children with authoritarian and permissive parents. Children attending daycare exhibited more positive behavior compared to children who did not (P<.001). Patients with private dental insurance exhibited more positive behavior (P>.04) and less caries (P>.024) compared to children with Medicaid or no dental insurance.

CONCLUSIONS

Authoritative parenting and having private dental insurance were associated with less caries and better behavior during the first dental visit. Attending daycare was associated with better behavior during the first dental visit.