Knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour regarding the infant oral health visit; Are dentists in Ireland aware of the recommendation for a visit to the dentist by age 1 year?

摘要

International guidelines recommend a first dental visit by the infant’s first birthday.1-3 Anecdotally, most children in Ireland are not seen at an optimal age, and the most recent national survey revealed that 42% of Irish 5-year-olds have dental caries.4 The benefits of dental examination at 12 months of age were recently reviewed by Duane and FitzGerald.5,6 To ensure that Irish infants receive timely oral healthcare, it is important to identify current barriers and facilitators to access to dental care.