A Study on the Factors which affect the Oral Health Care of Infants

유아의 구강보건관리에 영향을 미치는 요인에 관한 연구

This study was performed to find variables which affect oral health care of infants. The subjects were 439 infants and their mothers who live in suburban area. Oral examinations for the infants were conducted and the questionnairs were given to infants' mothers. Toothbrushing frequency, oral hygiene score, the percentage of filled teeth among decayed teeth, and dental treatment experience of infants were used as dependent variable, respectively. Demographic, socio-economic variables and the other variables which might affect oral health care of infants were used as independent variables. Correlation analysis and analysis of variance were used for the independent variables of toothbrushing frequency, oral hygiene score, and the percentage of filled teeth among decayed teeth of infant. Chi-Square and Student's t-test were used for the dependent variables of dental treatment experience of infant. The obtained results were as follows; 1. Toothbrushing frequency of mother and internal locus of oral control of mother were the factors which affect toothbrusing frequency of infants. 2. Oral health belief of mother was the factor which affect oral hygiene score of infants. 3. Age of infant was the factor which affect the percentage of filled teeth among decayed teeth. 4. Age of infant and educational level of infant's mother were the factors which affect the infants' consumption of dental treatment.