June 2008

Objective To assess the influence of maternal and individual characteristics on self-reported dental health of Turkish school children aged 10-12 years with different socio-economic backgrounds. Method A cross-sectional study of children aged 10 to 12 (n=611) using paired matches of self-administered questionnaires for children and their mothers. Clinical examinations based on World Health Organization criteria were conduced. The participation rate was 97% (n=591) for the children, 87% (n=533) for the mothers, and 95% (n=584) for the clinical examinations. Multiple linear regression, descriptive statistics, Spearman correlation coefficient and chi-square test were applied. Results Private school children’s mothers were more likely to have had higher education (95% at least high school) than public school children’s mothers (11%); they reported better dental health (above average) than did mothers of public school children (p=0.001). Among all mothers, those with above average self-reported dental health reported more regular dental visits than did those with below average scores (p=0.001). Frequency of regular dental visits and toothbrushing among children attending public schools (5%, 65%) were lower than those attending private school (43%, 79%), (p=0.001). The mean DMFS was negatively correlated with self-reported dental health (rs =-0.187, p=0.001). Toothbrushing frequency and school performance were the common factors positively associated with self-reported dental health, among all children. Conclusion The results emphasize the important role of mothers and their socio-economic background in enhancement of children’s dental health. Their active role in conjunction with the potential of self-assessment provides a good basis for establishing and improving self-care among children, in developing countries in particular. Key words: Dental health, mothers, oral health behaviour, self-reporting, socio-economic status, children