Evaluation of Periodontal Awareness of Parents with Periodontitis Regarding their Children s Oral and Dental Health

Aim: Periodontal disease is thought to be seen in adults, children and adolescents can also be affected by this disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate parents with periodontitis in respect of the awareness and knowledge of oral and dental health of their children. Material and Methods: The study included 183 parents diagnosed with periodontitis. A questionnaire was completed by the parents. The first 7 items were related to sociodemographic data and socioeconomic status, the next 13 items were multiple choice questions to evaluate the periodontal awareness of the parents, and the final section included 8 items for the parents to evaluate the oral hygiene habits of their children. Results: Only 22.7% of the participants knew that there should be 20 primary teeth and the majority of those who responded correctly had an education level of primary school or middle school. When asked what oral care should be given to infants aged 0-3 years, the vast majority stated that they did not perform any oral care. The parents were seen to have knowledge consistent with scientific data on subjects that are constantly in printed and visual media such as the frequency of changing toothbrushes and the duration of teeth brushing but did not supervise their child when brushing their teeth. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that there is a clear need to inform individuals with periodontitis about the oral and dental health of their children, and to raise awareness of periodontitis.