فهرست نشریات علمی دسترسی آزاد ایران

BACKGROUND: To increase the utilization of preventive dental care, it is essential to improvethe knowledge and attitude of parents about such cares. The aim of this study was to evaluatethe knowledge, attitude, and practice of school children’s parents toward fissure sealant (FS) andprofessional fluoride therapy in Isfahan.MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross‑sectional study, school children’s parents (n = 637) wereselected based on proportional cluster sampling. A valid and reliable questionnaire was designed,including demographic section, questions about parents’ experience and their knowledge and attitudeabout professional fluoride and FS therapy. Data were analyzed by ANOVA, regression, Chi‑square,and correlation coefficient tests.RESULTS: The means of total knowledge and knowledge about fluoride therapy and FS were 5.9 ± 4.1out of 19, 3.3 ± 2.0 out of 9 and 2.6 ± 2.7 out of 10, respectively. The mean of attitude was 33.7 ± 5.8.The mean of knowledge toward FS therapy was significantly higher in academically educatedparents (P = 0.023). The mean of total knowledge among those who received their knowledge by theirdentist was also significantly higher than that of other resources such as mass media (P = 0.003).Total knowledge was positively correlated with attitude (P < 0.001, coefficient = 0.5). Of participants,10.4% (54) and 23.2% (124) had the experience of FS and fluoride therapy, respectively.CONCLUSION: Based on the low level of knowledge regarding professional preventive care in thisstudy and the effectiveness of knowledge acquired through dentists and mass media consultations,it might be effective to require them to consider such training more seriously.