What Maryland Adults With Young Children Know and Do About Preventing Dental Caries

Bibliographic Data

ID11035302
AuthorsAlice M Horowitz (Alice M. Horowitz and Min Qi Wang are with the Department of Behavioral and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park. Dushanka V. Kleinman is with the Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park.), Dushanka V Kleinman (0000-0002-8241-7867, Alice M. Horowitz and Min Qi Wang are with the Department of Behavioral and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park. Dushanka V. Kleinman is with the Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park.), Min Qi Wang (0000-0003-4870-0471, Alice M. Horowitz and Min Qi Wang are with the Department of Behavioral and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park. Dushanka V. Kleinman is with the Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park.)
Year2013
Volume103
Issue6
Pagese69-e76
Publication date2013-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0090-0036 • E-ISSN: 1541-0048
PublisherAmerican Public Health Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.2105/ajph.2012.301038
PMID23597372
PMCIDPMC3698752
OpenAlexW2100753149
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited12

Objectives. We sought to determine Maryland adults’ knowledge, understanding, opinions, and practices with respect to prevention and early detection of dental caries. Methods. We conducted a statewide random-digit-dialing, computer-assisted telephone survey in 2010 among 770 adults who had a child aged 6 years or younger living in their home. A traditional random-digit sample and a targeted low-income sample were included. Analyses included frequencies, percentages, the χ 2 test, and multivariate logistic regression. Results. Respondents’ overall level of knowledge about preventing dental caries was low. Those with higher levels of education were more likely to have correct information regarding prevention and early detection of dental caries. Nearly all respondents (97.9%) reported that they were aware of fluoride, but only 57.8% knew its purpose. More than one third (35.1%) of the respondents were not aware of dental sealants. Those with lower levels of education were significantly less likely to drink tap water, as were their children, and significantly less likely to have had a dental appointment in the preceding past 12 months. Conclusions. Our results demonstrate the need to increase oral health literacy regarding caries prevention and early detection

Environmental health · Family medicine · Literacy · Logistic regression · Multivariate analysis · Oral health · Population · Random digit dialing · Telephone interview · Telephone survey · Test (biology) · Dental Health and Care Utilization · Dental Research and COVID-19 · Dentistry · Medicine · Oral microbiology and periodontitis research · Psychology · Gerontology

Tools

Open DOISci-HubOpen Access