Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39931592›Full record

ArticleCureus2025

Assessing Parental Understanding and Approaches of Preventive Dental Care for Children: A Cross-Sectional Study in Saudi Arabia.

Nouf M Altamimi, Nashwa A Bushara

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cureus, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Nouf M AltamimiCollege of Dentistry, University of Hail, Hail, SAU.
Nashwa A BusharaCollege of Dentistry, University of Hail, Hail, SAU.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPreventive dental care is crucial for maintaining children's oral health and preventing dental diseases. Parental knowledge and practices significantly influence children's dental habits. However, gaps in awareness and inconsistent practices may contribute to the high prevalence of dental caries. In Saudi Arabia, the understanding of preventive dental care among parents remains underexplored.

methodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted among 250 parents in Saudi Arabia using an online questionnaire. The survey assessed demographic characteristics, parental knowledge, practices, and attitudes toward preventive dental care for children. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

resultsMost parents (43%) correctly identified the appropriate age for a child's first dental visit. While 64% recommended dental check-ups every six months, 23% recommended yearly visits. A majority (68%) encouraged children to brush twice daily, though 16% reported that their children brushed only once. Regarding dietary habits, 19% of parents reported regular consumption of sugary snacks by their children. Time constraints (41%) and high costs (20%) were the most common barriers to regular dental visits. Over 85% of parents expressed interest in receiving more information on preventive dental care.

conclusionWhile many parents in Saudi Arabia recognize the importance of preventive dental care, there are significant gaps in both knowledge and practices, particularly regarding the frequency of dental visits and dietary habits. These findings highlight the need for targeted educational interventions to improve parental knowledge and practices, ultimately promoting better oral health outcomes for children.

Indexed as

children’s oral healthcross-sectional surveydental educationdental visitsoral hygiene practicesparental attitudesparental knowledgepreventive dental caresaudi arabiasugary snacks

Identifiers

PMID39931592
PMCPMC11809118

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.