Behaviour of Hong Kong preschool children during their first dental examination in kindergarten

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Children’s behaviour and cooperativeness during dental treatment is an important factor which can determine whether the dental procedures can be carried out successfully. The aims of this study were to investigate the behaviour of Hong Kong preschool children during their first dental examination in kindergarten, and the associations between the child’s behaviour and oral health status, and the parenting style. Methods: Generally healthy children attending the first year (Grade K1), aged 3 to 4 years, in three kindergartens and who were and had parental informed consent were accepted into this study. The parents of the participant children self-completed a questionnaire on the child’s oral health related behaviours and the 32-item Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire (PSDQ). Based the parents’ responses to the PSDQ and the formula developed by Robinson et al., the dominant parenting style was classified. Clinical examination of the children took place in their respective kindergarten by a dentist using a mirror and a disposable wooden spatuala, under artificial light. No dental instruments or equipment were present. The behaviour of each participant child in the dental examination venue was observed and classified according to the Frankl Behaviour Rating Scale (FBRS). Results: A total of 87 children participated in the oral examination, including 42 (48.3%) girls and 45 (51.7%) boys. Among them, 73 (83.9%) of their parent/caretakers returned a completed questionnaire. Two thirds of the children showed positive behaviours during the dental examination, with 58.6% of them obtaining a FBRS score of 3 (positive) and 10.3% had a FBRS score of 4 (definitively positive). The behaviour of 16.1% of the children was definitely negative (FBRS score 1) and they cried or refused to be properly examined. The differences in dental caries experience and oral hygiene status of the children in the four FBRS groups did not reach a statistically significant level (p>0.05). The vast majority (94.5%) of the respondents of the parental questionnaire were classified as authoritative parents. Only 5.5% of the respondents had a permissive parenting style and none adopted an authoritarian parenting style. No statistically significant association was found between the study children’s behaviours during the dental examination and the parenting style. Conclusion and Recommendations: Kindergarten children in Hong Kong are generally cooperative during their first encounter with a dentist in an outreach dental service setting in the kindergarten they attend. No conclusions on the relationships between the cooperativeness of preschool children during their first dental examination in kindergarten, and their oral health status and the parenting style of their parents can be drawn.