Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to examine the agreement between parent-reported dental visits and received dental treatment within the previous 12 months among primary school children in Riyadh, and to examine factors associated with over-reporting and under-reporting of dental visits.
Methods: A stratified sample from 16 primary schools in Riyadh was selected. A total of 996 students aged 6-11 years were assessed for dental treatment at baseline and 12 months later. World Health Organization criteria for assessing oral health were used. Socioeconomic and behavioral data were also collected. Data included reported dental visits (RDVs) within the past 12 months. A variable indicating any dental treatment within the follow-up time (DTR). The difference between visits and treatments (DVS) was calculated (DVS= RDV- DTR), which included three categories: reported visits/received treatment; reported visits/no treatment; and no reported visits/received treatment.
Results: Agreement between parent-reported dental visits and dental treatment within the previous 12 months was 55%, with nearly 8% under-reported dental visits. Children experiencing dental pain had higher odds of reporting dental visits with no treatment (OR = 2.11, 95%CI: 1.47-2.65). Baseline dental caries was significantly associated with under-reported dental visits (OR = 1.15, 95%CI: 1.07-1.23).
Conclusion: The findings indicated under-reporting of dental visits by those with higher dental caries at baseline. While children could have visited a dentist but not received treatment, hence, some might have over-reported dental visits. The findings suggested that parental reports of child dental visits were relatively reliable.

Key words: Child, health care, dental health services, longitudinal studies, validation studies