Pediatric Dentistry Department, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 22254, Saudi Arabia.
Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 22254, Saudi Arabia.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Oct 20;19(20):13584. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192013584.
(1) Background: Understanding oral health needs and barriers is important to overcome the oral disease burden, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to assess oral health needs and barriers among Saudi children after the COVID-19 pandemic wave started. (2) Methods: Parents of healthy children aged 3-11 years from five regions of Saudi Arabia were surveyed using an electronically administered validated questionnaire from Febuary-2021 to July-2021. Oral lesions/manifestations during the last 12 months reported by parents included tooth discoloration, ulcers, abscess, swelling of the gingiva, halitosis, gingival bleeding, dry mouth, pain while eating, difficulty in speaking or eating, burning sensation, and white spots. Barriers were assessed according to the WHO Oral Health Questionnaire. (3) Results: Children experiencing toothaches were reported by 1098 (72.4%) respondents. When reported, oral manifestations and lesions were associated with a higher inability to visit a dentist ( < 0.001). Barriers to dental care were more frequent among parents with lower education ( < 0.001; adjusted-odds ratio (AOR), 1.815) and a greater number of children ( < 0.001; AOR, 1.197). (4) Conclusion: Parents reported a high frequency of unmet oral health needs. Education could play an important role in improving oral health care in children and as a predictor of public health concerns.
(1) 背景：了解口腔健康需求和障碍对于减轻口腔疾病负担至关重要，尤其是在 COVID-19 大流行之后。本研究旨在评估 COVID-19 大流行浪潮开始后沙特儿童的口腔健康需求和障碍。(2) 方法：2021 年 2 月至 7 月，对沙特阿拉伯五个地区的 3-11 岁健康儿童的家长进行了一项电子管理的经过验证的问卷调查。家长报告的过去 12 个月中出现的口腔病变/表现包括牙齿变色、溃疡、脓肿、牙龈肿胀、口臭、牙龈出血、口干、进食疼痛、言语或进食困难、烧灼感和白斑。根据世界卫生组织口腔健康问卷评估障碍。(3) 结果：1098 名（72.4%）受访者报告孩子有牙痛。当出现口腔表现和病变时，无法看牙医的可能性更高（<0.001）。受教育程度较低的家长（<0.001；调整后的优势比（AOR），1.815）和子女较多的家长（<0.001；AOR，1.197）更常面临牙科保健障碍。(4) 结论：家长报告了口腔健康需求未得到满足的高频率。教育可以在改善儿童口腔保健方面发挥重要作用，并成为公共卫生关注的预测因素。
