Cross-sectional study identifies modifiable oral health behaviors linked to caries in children, indicating parental supervision and routine checkups reduce dental disease risk.
Key Points
To assess oral hygiene habits, dietary risk factors, and access to dental care associated with parent-reported dental caries and their functional impact on children and adolescents.
Conducted a cross-sectional study using an online structured questionnaire completed by parents or legal guardians of 508 children and adolescents aged under 18 years in Romania.
Evaluated associations using chi-square tests, Cramér’s V, Mann–Whitney U tests, and multivariable logistic regression modeling.
Dental caries was reported in 61.2% of children, associating most strongly with the absence of parental supervision during brushing (Cramér’s V = 0.364), age starting unsupervised brushing (V = 0.354), and the reason for the last dental visit (V = 0.426).
Multivariable logistic regression identified older age, lack of brushing supervision, bedtime sweets, infrequent dental visits, and rural residence as independent predictors of reported caries (all p < 0.05; Nagelkerke R² = 0.361).
All six dimensions of oral-health impact were significantly associated with caries, with physical discomfort showing the strongest association (Cramér’s V = 0.349).