Dental attendance in pre-school children

Oral health in preschool children is highly dependent on parental influence. Young children in particular rely heavily on their parents to achieve good oral health, for example by providing healthy foods and drinks, encouraging daily tooth brushing and attending the dentist regularly. In addition to this, parents act as role models for their children. Thus children of parents who do not practice regular oral hygiene, have cariogenic diets and are infrequent dental attenders are of much higher risk of developing caries than those whose parents are more motivated towards good oral health.

Dental visits from a young age are of paramount importance. First, they serve as an opportunity for parents to receive oral health education targeted for their child's age and caries risk. Second, they allow children to become acclimatised with dental visits, thus reducing anxiety. Finally, they give the dentist the opportunity to provide professional preventive interventions which can only be carried out in surgery, such as the application of fluoride varnish or fissure sealants.