Association of parental oral health literacy and child temperament with dental attendance in children with early childhood caries: a cross-sectional study.

purposeTo study the associations of parental oral health literacy (OHL) and child temperament with nonattendance during recall appointments among children with early childhood caries (ECC).

methodsThis cross-sectional study involved 100 parent‒child dyads with children aged 71 months or younger affected by ECC (at least one decayed, missing or filled tooth). After providing informed consent, the accompanying parents completed a questionnaire assessing their attitudes towards oral health, barriers to dental care utilisation, OHL (Oral Health Literacy Adult Questionnaire) and their child's temperament (Emotionality, Activity, Shyness Temperament Survey for Children). Data on dental appointment cancellations, missed appointments, or discontinuations over 6 months were collected retrospectively from patient records. Participants with ≥ 20% cancelled or missed appointments or treatment discontinuation were categorised as nonattenders; the rest were attenders. The associations between nonattendance and parental OHL, child temperament and other factors were analysed using the chi-square test, Student's t test and multiple logistic regression analysis.

resultsOf the 100 child patients, 47 were attenders, and 53 were nonattenders. There was no significant difference in parental OHL levels between the attenders and nonattenders. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association between nonattendance and activity temperament (odds ratio (OR) = 1.90, p = 0.019), lack of time (OR = 4.24, p = 0.041), and inconvenience (OR = 6.00, p < 0.001).

conclusionThe activity temperament of the child, parental perceptions of lack of time, and inconvenience are associated with nonattendance among children with ECC. The association of parental OHL with nonattendance for dental appointments could not be established.