Parents View About Oral Health Status, Oral Hygiene Behaviors, and Dental Services Utilization of Their Children With Hearing Impairment Attending Special Schools
Abstract Objectives: Parents are the principal decision-makers regarding their child’s health. Awareness of parents’ views regarding their children's health, particularly with special health care needs, is essential for health care providers. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the parents' view about oral health status, oral hygiene practices, and dental services utilization of their children with hearing impairment attending special schools.Results: 57.4% of the parents rated their children's oral health status as very good or good, 27.9% as moderate, and 9.0% as poor. About half of the parents (49.2%) stated that their children used toothbrush once daily, and 15% use dental floss. Also, 54% of the children visited the dentist before this survey's conduct. The twice brush or more a day was significantly associated with the oral health status (OR: 22.16; CI 95%), and other factors did not show a significant association.