Neglect insidiously affects a child's overall health in all aspects. The aim of this study was to determine whether the presence of siblings caused dental neglect, and whether there was a relationship between dental neglect and anxiety.
Dental neglect is an intentional failure of parents or caregivers to take precautions and fulfil necessary dental treatment, and has a close relationship with dental caries and anxiety. Oral health status of the children was evaluated using the DMFT/dmft, PUFA/pufa, and OHI-S indices. In addition, the parents completed the Dental Neglect Scale (DNS) and a questionnaire, and the Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale (MCDASf) was administered to the children to assess their dental anxiety.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
100
Recep Tayyip Erdogan University Training and Research Hospital
Rize, Turkey (Türkiye)
the effects of presence of siblings on dental neglect
The effects of presence of siblings on oral health and dental neglect was assessed using dental neglect scale. The dental neglect scale for children was originally composed of seven statements, using a Likert scale ranging from one to five . The total score of DNS can range from 7 to 35, with higher scores representing greater dental neglect.
Time frame: for eight months from the beginning of the study
the effects of presence of siblings on oral health
the effects of presence of siblings on oral health and dental neglect was assessed using oral hygiene index . The OHI-S has two elements, the Debris Index and the Calculus Index. The Debris Index and the Calculus Index can range from 0 to 3, the oral hygiene index values from 0 to 6.
Time frame: for eight months from the beginning of the study
the effects of presence of siblings on dental caries
the effects of presence of siblings on oral health and dental neglect was assessed using, DMFT/dmft index. caries (D/d), missing due to caries (M/m), filling (F/f) teeth were recorded using DMF-T indices for permanent teeth and dmf-t indices for primary teeth.
Time frame: for eight months from the beginning of the study
the effects of presence of siblings on untreated caries
the effects of presence of siblings on oral health and dental neglect was assessed using pufa index. The index recorded the presence of visible pulp involvement (P/p), mucosal ulceration due to root fragments (U/u), fistulae (F/f) and/or abscessess (A/a). Higher scores represents worse oral health.
Time frame: for eight months from the beginning of the study
to evaluate whether there was a correlation between dental neglect and anxiety in children
the relationship between dental neglect and anxiety was evaluated using Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale (MCDASf). MCDASf, which is a validated and reliable indicator for the measurement of dental anxiety in children was used. Children in this study were asked to complete the MCDASf, which covers eight multiple choice statements with five faces ranging from 1 (not anxious), to 5 (extremely anxious). The total score on the MCDASf was calculated for each subject (ranging from 5: little or no dental anxiety, to 40: severe dental anxiety.
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Time frame: for eight months from the beginning of the study