Determination of the perspectives and knowledge levels of parents regarding individual and professional fluoride application methods in pediatric patients, determination of the frequency of caries in their children and evaluation of the caries preventive effect of fluoride in accordance with the data obtained

Aim: In our study; the aim was to determine parents perspectives and knowledge levels regarding individual/professional fluoride application methods in paediatric patients, along with their dental anxiety levels, to assess the frequency of caries in their children, to perform intraoral evaluations of patients, to determine their use of preventive fluoride treatments, and to evaluate the importance of fluoride for oral health. Materials and Methods: Our study included 300 paediatric patients aged 6–12 years and their parents who visited the Paediatric Dentistry Department Clinic at Süleyman Demirel University Faculty of Dentistry between September 2024 and February 2025, with their informed consent obtained. The children/parents were asked to complete questionnaires containing questions about sociodemographic information, level of knowledge about fluoride, oral hygiene indices (DMFT/dft, plaque index, gingival index), and dental anxiety level (MDAS, CFSS-DS, fMCDAS). Statistical analysis involved the use of the chi-square test, Pearson correlation analysis, and Fisher's exact test (p<0.05). Results: Our study included 300 patients, comprising 138 boys and 162 girls. It was determined that children and parents had low experience with professional fluoride application, high DMFT/dft scores, moderate plaque/gingival index scores, and that more effective preventive measures were required for oral hygiene/caries control (p<0.05). It was revealed that the levels of dental anxiety in children/parents, in terms of MDAS/CFSS-DS/fMCDAS scores, could negatively affect treatment processes (p<0.05). Regarding the opinion on applying professional fluoride treatment to children, a significant difference was found between groups of mothers with secondary school and primary school education in terms of the statement 'it can be applied if the dentist deems it appropriate' (p<0.05). The effects of socio-economic and demographic factors such as the parents' age, educational level, number of siblings, income level, and oral hygiene habits on oral health scores were found to be statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: Our study reveals the general lack of knowledge regarding fluoride applications and the need to raise awareness, the negative effects of dental anxiety on treatment processes, and the fact that socio-economic and demographic variables may play a decisive role in oral health. Keywords: Fluoride Application, Dental Anxiety, Caries, Knowledge Level.