Awareness Among Parents of Pediatric Patients Regarding the Effects of Their Child’s Systemic Diseases on Their Oral Health: A Cross-Sectional Mixed-method Questionnaire Study

This study assessed parental awareness of the impact of systemic illnesses (asthma, epilepsy, hematologic disorders) and their medications on children’s oral health, as well as potential complications during dental treatment. An observational analytical cross-sectional semi-qualitative study was conducted at five tertiary health care centers in Karnataka between November 2024 and April 2025 with 126 participants. Data collection was done through structured, validated questionnaires. Results revealed that 95% of parents were unaware of oral manifestations of systemic illnesses, 96% were unaware of medication-related oral complications, and 96% were unaware of possible dental treatment complications. Qualitative insights revealed denial of systemic-oral links and lack of communication from healthcare providers. No significant correlation was found between parental education and awareness. These findings highlight the urgent need for structured health education initiatives and interdisciplinary communication to bridge awareness gaps and ensure safe oral care in children with systemic conditions.