Parental perceptions of dental health and need for treatment in children with epilepsy: a multicenter cross-sectional study

Figures & data

Table 1 Characteristics of children (n=96)

	% (n)
Age (years)
<5	35.4 (34)
5–10	44.8 (43)
≥10	19.8 (19)
Sex
Male	51.0 (49)
Female	49.0 (47)
Nationality
Saudi	53.1 (51)
Egyptian	7.3 (7)
Syrian	13.5 (13)
Somali	7.3 (7)
Yemeni	7.3 (7)
Other	11.5 (11)
Type of seizures
Do not know	92.7 (89)
Whole body	5.2 (5)
Partial	2.1 (2)
Cause of epilepsy
Cerebral palsy	65.6 (63)
Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy	5.2 (5)
Unknown	13.5 (13)
Other	15.6 (15)
Antiepileptic drugs
Single therapy	55.2 (53)
Combined therapy	44.8 (43)

Table 2 Dental status and other factors

	% (n)
Cognitive disability
No	25.0 (24)
Yes	75.0 (72)
Motor disability
No	25.0 (24)
Yes	75.0 (72)
Dental status
Good	44.8 (43)
Bad	55.2 (53)
Need for dental care
Needed	84.4 (81)
Not needed	15.6 (15)
History of drop attacks
No	83.3 (80)
Yes	16.7 (16)
Brushing teeth
Every day	46.9 (45)
Sometimes	46.9 (45)
Never	6.3 (6)
Vomiting
No	20.8 (20)
Yes	79.2 (76)
Recently seen a dentist
No	33.3 (32)
Yes	66.7 (64)
Perceived to be overweight
No	63.5 (61)
Yes	36.5 (35)
Referral to dentist after being seen in clinic
No	35.4 (34)
Yes	64.6 (62)

Table 3 Analysis of demographics with perceived dental status and need for dental care

	Dental status			Dental care		P-value
	Good, % (n)	Bad, % (n)	P-value	Not needed, % (n)	Needed, % (n)
Age
<5.5 years	39.6 (19)	60.4 (29)	0.412	20.8 (10)	79.2 (38)	0.16
≥5.5 years	50.0 (24)	50.0 (24)		10.4 (5)	89.6 (43)
Sex
Male	44.9 (22)	55.1 (27)	0.983	16.3 (8)	83.7 (41)
Female	44.7 (21)	55.3 (26)		14.9 (7)	85.1 (40)
Nationality
Saudi	41.2 (21)	58.8 (30)	0.448	15.7 (8)	84.3 (43)	0.986
Non-Saudi	48.9 (22)	51.1 (23)		15.6 (7)	84.4 (38)
Diagnosis
Cerebral palsy	33.8 (24)	66.2 (47)	0.002	9.9 (7)	90.1 (64)	0.013
Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy	60.0 (3)	40.0 (2)		20.0 (1)	80.0 (4)
Unknown	100.0 (5)	0.0 (0)		60.0 (3)	40.0 (2)
Others	73.3 (11)	26.7 (4)		26.7 (4)	73.3 (11)
Antiepileptic drugs
Single therapy	37.7 (20)	62.3 (33)	0.123	15.1 (8)	84.9 (45)	0.874
Combined therapy	53.5 (23)	46.5 (20)		16.3 (7)	83.7 (36)

Table 4 Analysis of family demographics with perceived dental status and need for dental care

	Dental status		P-value	Dental care		P-value
	Good, % (n)	Bad, % (n)		Not needed, % (n)	Needed, % (n)
Mother’s education
Below secondary	73.3 (11)	26.7 (4)	0.042	33.3 (5)	66.7 (10)	0.093
Secondary	35.7 (15)	64.3 (27)		9.5 (4)	90.5 (38)
University	43.6 (17)	56.4 (22)		15.4 (6)	84.6 (33)
Mother’s job
Housewife	45.5 (40)	54.5 (48)	0.665	17.0 (15)	83.0 (73)	0.204
Employed	37.5 (3)	62.5 (5)		0.0 (0)	100.0 (8)
Mother’s age
≤35 years	47.8 (22)	52.2 (24)	0.566	19.6 (9)	80.4 (37)	0.308
>35 years	42.0 (21)	58.0 (29)		12.0 (6)	88.0 (44)
Father’s age
>40 years	47.2 (17)	52.8 (19)	0.711	16.7 (6)	83.3 (30)	0.828
≤40 years	43.3 (26)	56.7 (34)		15.0 (9)	85.0 (51)
Father’s job
Unemployed	21.7 (5)	78.3 (18)	0.038	17.4 (4)	82.6 (19)	0.962
Blue-collar	52.9 (18)	47.1 (16)		14.7 (5)	85.3 (29)
White-collar	51.3 (20)	48.7 (19)		15.4 (6)	84.6 (33)
Father’s education
Below secondary	76.9 (10)	23.1 (3)	0.041	38.5 (5)	61.5 (8)	0.026
Secondary	37.5 (12)	62.5 (20)		6.3 (2)	93.8 (30)
University	41.2 (21)	58.8 (30)		15.7 (8)	84.3 (43)
Income (in Saudi Riyal [SR])
SR<5,000	50.0 (26)	50.0 (26)	0.535	17.3 (9)	82.7 (43)	0.881
SR 5,000–10,000	38.9 (14)	61.1 (22)		13.9 (5)	86.1 (31)
SR>10,000	37.5 (3)	62.5 (5)		12.5 (1)	87.5 (7)

Table 5 Analysis of other risk factors with perceived dental status and need for dental care

	Dental status		P-value	Dental care		P-value
	Good, % (n)	Bad, % (n)		Not needed, % (n)	Needed, % (n)
Drop attack
No	40.0 (32)	60.0 (48)	0.035	12.5 (10)	87.5 (70)	0.059
Yes	68.8 (11)	31.3 (5)		31.3 (5)	68.8 (11)
Cognitive disability
No	75.0 (18)	25.0 (6)	0.001	29.2 (7)	70.8 (17)	0.035
Yes	34.7 (25)	65.3 (47)		11.1 (8)	88.9 (64)
Motor disability
No	79.2 (19)	20.8 (5)	<0.001	33.3 (8)	66.7 (16)	0.006
Yes	33.3 (24)	66.7 (48)		9.7 (7)	90.3 (65)
Vomiting
No	65.0 (13)	35.0 (7)	0.041	35.0 (7)	65.0 (13)	0.007
Yes	39.5 (30)	60.5 (46)		10.5 (8)	89.5 (68)
Perceived to be overweight
Yes	74.3 (26)	25.7 (9)	<0.001	3.3 (2)	96.7 (59)	<0.001
No	27.9 (17)	72.1 (44)		37.1 (13)	62.9 (22)
Recently seen a dentist
Yes	27.9 (17)	72.1 (44)	<0.001	37.1 (13)	62.9 (22)	<0.001
No	74.3 (26)	25.7 (9)		3.3 (2)	96.7 (59)
Referral to dentist
Yes	25.8 (16)	74.2 (46)	<0.001	41.2 (14)	58.8 (20)	<0.001
No	79.4 (27)	20.6 (7)		1.6 (1)	98.4 (61)
Brushing teeth
Every day	48.9 (22)	51.1 (23)	0.065	15.6 (7)	84.4 (38)	0.048
Sometimes	35.6 (16)	64.4 (29)		11.1 (5)	88.9 (40)
Never	83.3 (5)	16.7 (1)		50.0 (3)	50.0 (3)