Association Between Parents' Self-Perceived Oral Health Knowledge and the Presence of Dental Caries in Their Children.

Introduction

Oral health in children is essential for their overall well-being, influencing nutrition, language development, and self-esteem. Dental caries represent one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in childhood.

Objective

The objective of this study is to evaluate the association between parents' self-perceived knowledge of oral health and the presence of dental caries in their children. Materials and

Methods

A cross-sectional observational study was conducted with 1052 children aged 4 to 14 years and their parents in Quito, Ecuador. Parents completed validated questionnaires (OHIP-14, OIDP, CPQ, and OHQoL-UK) to assess their self-perceived oral health knowledge. Clinical examinations were performed to detect cavitated carious lesions. Statistical analysis included Chi-square tests and odds ratio (OR) calculations.

Results

A significant association was found between lower parental knowledge and higher prevalence of dental caries in children (Chi-square = 16.245, p = 0.0062; OR = 18.18, 95% CI [1.80-183.75]). Most caries cases were found in children whose parents rated their knowledge as "good" or "very good," suggesting a gap between perceived and actual knowledge.

Conclusions

The findings highlight the need for targeted educational strategies that address both knowledge and behavioral practices in oral health, especially among parents with low self-perceived knowledge.