About this Research Topic
Dental caries is the most prevalent chronic disease affecting children globally, posing significant challenges to their nutrition, speech, self-esteem, and daily activities. Despite being preventable, dental caries remains a major public health concern, affecting 60% to 90% of school-aged children. Preventive practices, such as regular dental checkups, oral health promotion, and self-care activities like sugar intake restriction, tooth brushing, and fluoride application, are crucial in maintaining oral health. However, the ability to engage in preventive practices and the resulting disease is influenced by various socio-behavioral factors. Socio-economic status, parental education and oral health behaviors play a significant role in shaping children's oral health behaviors, and are often linked to broader socio-economic conditions and cultural and lifestyle factors. While developed countries have seen a decline in dental caries prevalence in some populations, many developing countries face rising prevalence rates, adversely affecting children's quality of life and academic performance.
This Research Topic aims to assess the impact of socio-economic status and behavioral factors on children's dental caries experience across different countries. By exploring these dimensions, the research seeks to answer critical questions about how social determinants and behaviors influence oral health outcomes in children. Studies will test hypotheses related to the correlation between socio-economic factors, preventive practices, and the prevalence of dental caries, aiming to provide insights that could inform public health strategies and interventions.
To gather further insights into the socio-behavioral determinants of children's dental caries experience, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- The influence of parental education and socio-economic status on children's oral health behaviors.
- Comparative analysis of dental caries prevalence in developed versus developing countries.
- The role of dietary habits and fluoride use in preventing dental caries.
- Access to and utilization of oral health services in different socio-economic contexts.
- The impact of oral health education programs on children's dental caries experience.
- Behavioral interventions aimed at improving oral health outcomes in children.
This Research Topic aims to assess the impact of socio-economic status and behavioral factors on children's dental caries experience across different countries. By exploring these dimensions, the research seeks to answer critical questions about how social determinants and behaviors influence oral health outcomes in children. Studies will test hypotheses related to the correlation between socio-economic factors, preventive practices, and the prevalence of dental caries, aiming to provide insights that could inform public health strategies and interventions.
To gather further insights into the socio-behavioral determinants of children's dental caries experience, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- The influence of parental education and socio-economic status on children's oral health behaviors.
- Comparative analysis of dental caries prevalence in developed versus developing countries.
- The role of dietary habits and fluoride use in preventing dental caries.
- Access to and utilization of oral health services in different socio-economic contexts.
- The impact of oral health education programs on children's dental caries experience.
- Behavioral interventions aimed at improving oral health outcomes in children.
Keywords: Oral Health Promotion, Socio-Economic Status, Pediatric Dentistry, Dental Caries, Children, Social Class, Oral Health, Behavior
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
