Individual and Maternal Determinants of Pre-adolescents' Self-reported Dental Health

Objectives: To increase understanding of self-reported dental health among pre-adolescents by assessing its individual and maternal determinants in different dental health care and socio-cultural settings, Turkey and Finland. Methods: A cross-sectional study of Finnish and Turkish pre-adolescents, 10- to 12-year-olds, was undertaken with questionnaires for pre-adolescents and their mothers. The response rate was 97% (n=591) for Turkish pre-adolescents and 87% (n=533) for their mothers. The corresponding figures were 65% (n=223) and 53% (n=199) for Finns. Boys comprised 51% of the Turkish and 57% of the Finnish population. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests by cross-tabulation, and logistic regression analysis. Results: Turkish pre-adolescents (50%) less frequently reported their dental health as above average than did the Finns (74%), (p<0.05). Turkish pre-adolescents reported lower rates of twice-daily tooth-brushing (36%) but better school performance (56%) than did the Finns (53%, 28%), (p<0.01). Mean values for tooth-brushing self-efficacy and self-esteem among Turkish pre-adolescents were lower than those of Finns (p<0.01). Turkish mothers less frequently reported their dental health as above average (36%) and less often practiced twice-daily tooth-brushing (39%) but had lower sweet consumption (84%, 1-2 days/week or never) than did the Finns (62%, 85%, 65%), (p<0.01). Both high tooth-brushing self-efficacy and good school performance contributed to better self-reported dental health among both Turkish and Finnish pre-adolescents. High self-esteem and low maternal sweet consumption among Finns, and twice daily pre-adolescent tooth-brushing among Turks were the other contributors. Conclusion: The self-efficacy and school performance reported to contribute to clinically-assessed oral health was found here as well, regarding self-reported dental health, regardless of cultural and socio-economic differences. This finding enhances understanding of self-reported dental health and should be taken into account in oral health promotion programs.