Timing, reasons, and predictors for first dental visits among children seen at two university hospitals.

Background: Dental caries is the most common chronic childhood disease. The recommended age for the first dental visit (FDV) is 1 year, yet a minority of children visit before the age of 3 years. Aim: The aim of the study was to estimate the patterns of and predictors for dental visits among a sample of children. Design: Parents of children between the ages of 6 months and 18 years, who attended the paediatric dentistry clinics and the well‐baby clinics, were recruited. A validated questionnaire was used to collect data. Logistic regression was utilized to assess the predictors of ever visiting a dentist. Results: The mean age at FDV was 5.8 ± 2.1 years. Parents' belief of not needing to see a dentist was the most common barrier to visiting a dentist (33%). Among the reasons for FDV, caries and pain were the most common (45% and 20%, respectively). Predictors of ever visiting a dentist were children who are not an only child and children of parents who visited a dentist themselves. Conclusion: Children visited the dentist at an age older than that recommended, and the reasons for FDV were mainly caries and its consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]