Assessment of Knowledge on Factors Causing Caries and on Methods of Caries Prevention Based on the Survey Results Among Parents of Preschool Children

Background. Poland is a country which failed to significantly reduce the incidence of dental caries. Over 80%, 90% and 92% of children respectively, at the age of 5, 7 and 15 years have at least one carious loss. Objectives. The purpose of this paper was to identify factors related to caries risk among children under the age of 5 years (preschool children). Material and Methods. The study evaluates knowledge of parents or caregivers on oral health from Olkusz District in Malopolska Region. The survey was conducted among 378 parents and caregivers of preschool children (3-5 years) from 19 kindergartens. Results. The authors reported that children are rare patients in dental offices. A high percentage of respondents have not visited a dentist yet. Statistical analysis showed no statistically significant relationship between knowledge on daily hygiene habits. Irregular or no dental visits, lack of knowledge on dental needs and other factors are the main causes of increased caries prevalence in children. Conclusions. Only a small number of caregivers reported that they had visited a dentist with a child, and this may result from parental ignorance about the need to examine the child's mouth before and after the eruption of primary teeth. The lack of basic principles concerning the proper rules regarding daily dental care as well as little knowledge on the need to attend follow-up visits may, in the long term, contribute to the development of cavities already in primary dentition, and then in permanent teeth