{"title":"Dental Neglect Among Children in Eastern Turkey.","authors":"Peris Celikel, Aybike Bas Ozturk, Fatih Sengul","doi":"10.3290/j.ohpd.c_1834","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Dental neglect is defined as the failure of parents to take necessary measures to protect their child's oral health, prevent pain and infection, and provide essential dental treatment. This study aims to assess the level of dental neglect among children in Eastern Turkey and its relation to their oral health.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study involved the 215 children and their parents. Dental neglect was measured using the Dental Neglect Scale (DNS), which consisted of seven Likert-scale questions (ranging from 1 to 5). A questionnaire also gathered demographic data. The DNS score was calculated by summing the responses, and the children's oral health was assessed using the Oral Hygiene Index and the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index. Data were statistically analysed with significance set at p 0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The average DMFT score was 7.24 ± 3.01, and the average DNS score was 16.24 ± 4.72. A statistically significant correlation was found between DMFT and the DNS score (correlation coefficient 0.162, p = 0.018). A statistically significant difference was noted between the mother's education level and the Dental Neglect Score (p = 0.006), but no statistically significant differences were observed concerning paternal education, family income, or frequency of dental visits.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>High DMFT scores and low maternal education levels are linked to higher dental neglect. Mothers play a crucial role in their children's oral health. Identifying mothers who do not provide adequate attention to their children as well as children in need of oral care is essential for implementing early, tailored interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":19696,"journal":{"name":"Oral health & preventive dentistry","volume":"23 ","pages":"135-140"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4000,"publicationDate":"2025-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11880832/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Oral health & preventive dentistry","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.3290/j.ohpd.c_1834","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"DENTISTRY, ORAL SURGERY & MEDICINE","Score":null,"Total":0}
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Abstract
Purpose: Dental neglect is defined as the failure of parents to take necessary measures to protect their child's oral health, prevent pain and infection, and provide essential dental treatment. This study aims to assess the level of dental neglect among children in Eastern Turkey and its relation to their oral health.
Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study involved the 215 children and their parents. Dental neglect was measured using the Dental Neglect Scale (DNS), which consisted of seven Likert-scale questions (ranging from 1 to 5). A questionnaire also gathered demographic data. The DNS score was calculated by summing the responses, and the children's oral health was assessed using the Oral Hygiene Index and the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index. Data were statistically analysed with significance set at p 0.05.
Results: The average DMFT score was 7.24 ± 3.01, and the average DNS score was 16.24 ± 4.72. A statistically significant correlation was found between DMFT and the DNS score (correlation coefficient 0.162, p = 0.018). A statistically significant difference was noted between the mother's education level and the Dental Neglect Score (p = 0.006), but no statistically significant differences were observed concerning paternal education, family income, or frequency of dental visits.
Conclusion: High DMFT scores and low maternal education levels are linked to higher dental neglect. Mothers play a crucial role in their children's oral health. Identifying mothers who do not provide adequate attention to their children as well as children in need of oral care is essential for implementing early, tailored interventions.
期刊介绍：
Clinicians, general practitioners, teachers, researchers, and public health administrators will find this journal an indispensable source of essential, timely information about scientific progress in the fields of oral health and the prevention of caries, periodontal diseases, oral mucosal diseases, and dental trauma. Central topics, including oral hygiene, oral epidemiology, oral health promotion, and public health issues, are covered in peer-reviewed articles such as clinical and basic science research reports; reviews; invited focus articles, commentaries, and guest editorials; and symposium, workshop, and conference proceedings.
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