Dental health status of preschool children

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Date

1985

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

University of the Western Cape

Abstract

In the past the dental health of children has been largely neglected, and not much attempt has been made to involve parents on the importance of caring for their children's teeth. With the result, dental problems begin in the early years of life and then become a greater problem as the children grow. The two common dental diseases which affect these children are dental decay or caries, and periodontal disease. However, the disease which poses the greatest challenge among children is dental decay, which is the primary cause of children losing their teeth. Studies have been done among children of this age to determine the extent of these diseases. The results of these studies have shown, that these dental diseases are becoming a major problem. In the second chapter the causes of both these diseases, as well as their prevention will be discussed. Pre-school children are at an age at which their lifestyle is totally dependent and controlled by their parents and the third chapter deals with the way that parents can influence the childs dental health behaviour. Chapter Four outlines a dental health programme for pre-school children, involving parents, teachers, as well as pre-school children, and Chapter Five describes a pilot project and its results.

Description

Magister Chirurgiae Dentium (MChD)

Keywords

Dental health, Children, Pre-school, Health education, Developing countries

Citation