Assessment of children's oral and dental health problems in the context of health neglect – The case of Manisa city

This research aims to examine the extent to which parents neglect oral and dental health care for children within the framework of children's rights and social services. The 'right to the highest standard of health' included in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child also covers oral health. The data was collected through face-to-face interviews with parents conducted by teachers as part of the 'Big Touch for Little Teeth' project, which was carried out in collaboration with the Yunusemre Municipality and the Protective Dentistry Association. The data form developed by the researcher consists of two sections; the first section includes the parents' demographic information, while the second section covers the children's oral and dental care habits and knowledge levels. The data were analysed using SPSS software, and the relationships between variables were evaluated using the chi-square test. The findings show that the parents' educational level and their own oral care habits significantly affect the children's oral health behaviours. In addition, having a dentist that the family visits regularly also positively affects the child's access to preventive health services. On the other hand, the gender variable was not suitable for direct comparison due to the predominance of female participants in the sample. The results underscore the responsibility of social workers to identify the risk of oral and dental health neglect in children, inform families, and provide appropriate referrals. Oral and dental health care should be addressed as an important aspect of child neglect, particularly in the field of medical social work.