Celikel Peris, Bas Ozturk Aybike, Sengul Fatih
Oral Health Prev Dent. 2025 Feb 20;23:135-140. doi: 10.3290/j.ohpd.c_1834.
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.
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.
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.
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.
牙齿忽视被定义为父母未能采取必要措施来保护孩子的口腔健康、预防疼痛和感染以及提供必要的牙科治疗。本研究旨在评估土耳其东部儿童的牙齿忽视水平及其与口腔健康的关系。
这项横断面研究涉及215名儿童及其父母。使用牙齿忽视量表（DNS）来衡量牙齿忽视情况，该量表由七个李克特量表问题组成（范围从1到5）。还通过问卷收集了人口统计学数据。通过对回答进行求和来计算DNS得分，并使用口腔卫生指数和龋失补牙（DMFT）指数评估儿童的口腔健康。对数据进行统计学分析，显著性水平设定为p < 0.05。
平均DMFT得分为7.24 ± 3.01，平均DNS得分为16.24 ± 4.72。发现DMFT与DNS得分之间存在统计学显著相关性（相关系数0.162，p = 0.018）。母亲的教育水平与牙齿忽视得分之间存在统计学显著差异（p = 0.006），但在父亲的教育水平、家庭收入或看牙频率方面未观察到统计学显著差异。
高DMFT得分和低母亲教育水平与更高的牙齿忽视相关。母亲在孩子的口腔健康中起着关键作用。识别那些没有给予孩子足够关注的母亲以及需要口腔护理的孩子对于实施早期、量身定制的干预措施至关重要。
