Fathers vs. Mothers: Evaluation of Parent Proxies for Early Childhood Dental Visits in an Indian Population

Context: Dental disease during early childhood can affect the oral health related quality of life, without timely treatment; which can be facilitated by the child's caregiver. Objectives: To study the differences in perception of early childhood oral heath related quality of life between fathers and mothers having children below six years of age, and to establish which parent can act as the child's dental proxy. Study Design: A questionnaire study was conducted among parents of sixty-nine children visiting the Department Of Pedodontics, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore. Methods and Material: The children were examined for the dmft (decayed, missing, filled teeth) scores, while their parents were asked to fill the ECOHIS (Early Childhood Health Impact Scale) questionnaire. The correlation between the ECOHIS scores and dmft was then compared. Statistical analysis used: A paired t-test was used to compare the fathers' and mothers' responses. The reliability of the questionnaire and the parents' responses was determined using Cronbach's alpha. Correlation of ECOHIS scores to the dmft values was done using a linear regression model. Results: The mothers' ECOHIS responses had a significant correlation with the dmft scores of the child. Hence, the mothers had a more accurate knowledge about the child's oral health than the fathers. Conclusion: The study helped determine that mothers can be reliable dental proxies for their children below six years of age. Keywords: Child's dental proxy; dmft; ECOHI