Determination of the oral health status and behaviors, treatment needs, and guardians’ perception of oral health among preschool children attending Integrated Child Developmental Scheme Anganwadi centers of Belagavi, South India: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Anganwadi centers are the epicenters of health services for many Indian children. The study aims to assess the oral health status, treatment needs, and association with demographic variables, oral health behaviors, and parents’ perception among preschoolers in these Anganwadis. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 1200, 3–5-year-old preschoolers from 48 Anganwadis in Belagavi. They were examined in accordance with the WHO Oral Health Pro forma (2013). A self-administered questionnaire assessed their parents’ perception of their oral health. SPSS software (version 20) was used for statistical analysis. Chi-square test computed categorical data. One-Way ANOVA test was used for multiple group comparisons. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The prevalence of dental caries was found to be 76.1% and gingival bleeding was found in 30.4% participants. The most common oral mucosal lesions were ulcers (5.1%) followed by abscess in 4.5% of children. About 67% of the parents perceived their child’s oral health as good. A staggering 98.5% of parents had not taken their children to the dentist ever. About 76.8% of the children required prompt treatment. CONCLUSION: Poor oral health status necessitates prompt action with age-specific targeted interventions for the curtailment of the prevalent oral maladies along with preventive strategies for the rejuvenation and resurrection of the plummeted oral health status for restoring the quality of life, coupled with motivation meted out to utilize the abundant dental services available in Belagavi. RELEVANCE TO PATIENTS: Preschool children attending the ICDS Anganwadi centers form a nested cohort of a triangulation of need, presentation, and requirement for a targeted and focused intervention pertaining to oral health hygiene and other important constructs of overall general well-being. This hypothesis generating exploratory study opens up ways and channels for such oral health related translational activities to be planned, implemented and periodically evaluated, as part of the standard procedures and protocols of the machinery.