الفهرس 
AcknowledgementOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 139 |  |  |
| | | from | 139 | | |
Abstract
Aim of the study: To identify the effect of mothers’ knowledge concetning oral hygiene on the oral health condition of their preschool children. ”’~ Sample: Six Day-Care-Centers were chosen in Alexandria by using the strati fied technique representing east, middle and west sectors of the city. from each center 50 mothers with their preschool children were selec ted randoml y . Then the total sample was 300 mothers with their preschool children. A questionnaire sheet was constructed. ~ncerning with knowledge and attitude of the mother about dental health and the practices of her child. Dental examination: Under adequate natural day light, dental examination was done for dental caries, gingival condition and oral hygiene. Results: According to mother’s knowledge (60.82) knew the ideal type of tooth brush, (72.73) of mothers at low socio-economic level did not know the best type of tooth brush. For the age at which the , child can hold his tooth brush, it was found that (86.60) of highly educated mothers mentioned that the age is from 3-4 years old. (67) of total sample did not know the correct number of deciduous teeth (20 teeth). Both relation between dental knowledge about number of deciduous teeth and the mothers level of education and their socio-economic level were statistically significant -’ (X2=40.453 and X2=38.007) respectively. About (89.69) of highly educated mothers mentioned the normal colour of gingiva (pale pink colour). About the best method of keeping child’s teeth and gin giva healthy (34) of the total sample mentioned the regular tooth brushing and only (2.33) agreed that the regular dental check-up is important. About half of educated mothers (46.4) and 45.24 of mothers of high socio-economic level considered tooth brushing is the best method of keeping the teeth and gingiva healthy. It was found that (19.33) of the total mothers’ sample said that vegetables, fruits, milk and eggs are useful to the child’s teeth. The percentage who gave this complete correct answer increased with the increasing level of education and this relation was highly significant (X2=6l.238). According to mother’s attitude: the result showed that (78.67’70) of the total sample gave positive attitude about the role played by the individual towards his own dental health. Regarding to mother’s practice, this study revealed that (67.33) of the total sample mentioned that they go to the dentist only when the child has boothache. Results of dental examination: revealed that caries was demonstra ted in (47.67) of children. Mean dmf increased with the age (0.648) at 3-4 years and (2.093) at 4-5 years. Mean dmf of males’ preschool children was 1.591 while mean dmf of the females was (1.538) and the difference is not statiitically significant. Mean dmf was (2.137) when the consumption of sweets is two-three times/ day. Mean dmf increased with decreasing level of mother’s educa tion, it was (1.967) among children of illiterate mothers. Also mean dmf at low socio-economic level was (2.018) and it dec creased to (1.643) among those of high socio-economic level but this difference is not statistically significant. The frequency of eating sweets has an affect upon the child’s oral health condition, the results revealed that (89.29) of the child ren who eat sweets about two-three times/day have bad severe oral health condition. Also brushing the teeth is very important for the oral health condition as the result of this study showed that (72.4) of the children who have good oral health condition used to brush their teeth regularly.