Abstract
Background: Raising the level of knowledge and attitude of parents about preventive dental services can be very important in encouraging them to demand and use this type of service and consequently reduce tooth decay in children. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of education on the knowledge and attitude of parents of primary school children in Qazvin about fissure sealants and fluoride therapy. Methods: A quasi-experimental interventional study (before-after) and a questionnaire-based study were performed on the parents of first to sixth-grade students in Qazvin primary schools in the 2019 year. A reliable and valid questionnaire including demographic questions, parents' knowledge about fluoride and fissure sealant therapy, and their attitudes toward these cares were used. The frequency of participants' responses and the sum of scores were extracted and with the help of an independent sample test, one-way ANOVA (examining the relationship between knowledge and education) Statistical analysis was performed. Results: 320 parents completed the questionnaires before training and 145 of them answered the questionnaire after training. The mean and standard deviation of total knowledge were 7.54 and 3.79, respectively, before training, and increased to 15.95 and 2.61 after training, out of a maximum score of 19. Regarding fluoride, the mean and standard deviation of knowledge before training were 4.22 and 2.13 (37.2% good knowledge), which increased to 7.53 and 1.36 (91% good knowledge) after training. Out of a maximum score of 9, the mean knowledge about fissure sealants was 3.32 (9.7% good knowledge) before training and increased to 8.44 and 1.58 (86.9% good knowledge) after training. Lastly, the mean attitude scores improved from 8/35 before training to 40.25/45 after training. Conclusions: Due to the low knowledge of parents before education, it is necessary to consider methods to increase awareness about professional preventive methods. Also, considering the positive impact of the received training, it seems that asking dentists to increase preventive education to their patients while providing services and also involving the mass media in providing public education can be an effective measure.