Exposure to screen time and dental neglect


YILMAZ N., AVCI G.

JOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS AND CHILD HEALTH, vol.58, no.10, pp.1855-1861, 2022 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 58 Issue: 10
  • Publication Date: 2022
  • Doi Number: 10.1111/jpc.16177
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS AND CHILD HEALTH
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, CAB Abstracts, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Veterinary Science Database
  • Page Numbers: pp.1855-1861
  • Keywords: caries, child, dental neglect, screen time, TELEVISION, PREVALENCE, CHILDREN, CARIES, INDEX
  • Karadeniz Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Aim Dental neglect is the failure of parents to meet a child's basic oral health needs and causes complications. Long screen time, and its health impact, is an important public health issue. This study is aimed at determining whether there is a relationship between screen time of children and parents and dental neglect. Methods Two hundred and fifteen patients were included in this cross-sectional observational study. A questionnaire including questions exploring demographic data, children's life-styles and, screen time of both parents and children. A dental neglect scale was administered to the parents. The children's intraoral examinations were evaluated using the decayed, missing, filled teeth (dmft) and pulp, ulcers, fistula, abscess (pufa) indices. Results Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that dental neglect was statistically significantly associated with brushing teeth unsupervised and infrequently, frequent snacking, rarely doing exercise, screen exposure at an early age and presence of dental plaque (P < 0.05). Long screen time was statistically significantly associated with high dmft scores, reflecting poor oral health. It was found that children who did not attend daycare, had statistically significantly longer exposure to screens, compared to those who attended daycare. Conclusions Early exposure to screens and long-term screen use are associated with adverse outcomes pertaining to children's oral health.