The Relation between Primary Schoolchildren’s Dental Plaque Index and Their Parents’ Oral Health Knowledge in Rural Armenia

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INTRODUCTION: Parental awareness of oral hygiene plays a crucial role in safeguarding children's oral health. This study sought to evaluate the oral health status, habits, and dietary patterns of primary schoolchildren in rural Armenia while investigating the influence of parental oral health knowledge on their children's oral health, as assessed by child's dental plaque index. METHODS: The study involved primary schoolchildren and their parents from two rural communities in Armavir province. It was composed of two key components: (1) a cross-sectional telephone survey conducted with parents to evaluate their knowledge of oral health, their children's oral hygiene practices, dietary habits, and sociodemographic background, and (2) a clinical assessment of the children's oral health, which included measuring plaque index and recording the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT/dmft) index. To determine the relationship between parental oral health knowledge and children's plaque index, a multivariable linear regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: A total of 400 parents participated. Children had a mean plaque index of 3.1 (SD 0.7) and a mean DMFT/dmft index of 7.3 (SD 3.3). The score indicating oral health behavior averaged 3.0 out of 6.0. The mean dietary habits score was 4.5 out of 9.0. The mean score indicating oral health knowledge of parents was 6.9 out of 9.0. After adjusting for potential confounders, each one-point increase in parental oral health knowledge score was associated with a 0.05-point reduction in the child's dental plaque index (95% CI: -0.10; -0.002). CONCLUSIONS: The findings emphasize the need for comprehensive strategies to improve children's oral health, including parental education, behavioral support, caries-prevention efforts, and better access to dental care.

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