Abstract
Preventive interventions, particularly among children, have become extremely important due to increased dental caries and lesions. Because parents have such a significant role in their children's lives, their understanding and attitude toward preventative measures will significantly influence their dental health. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate parents' knowledge on preventive methods against dental caries. In this cross-sectional study, participating parents completed a comprehensive questionnaire on their demographics, dental history, questions about fissure sealant and topical fluoride therapy. Data were analyzed by Chi-Square tests, analysis of variance and independent t-tests. A total of 206 parents participated in this questionnaire study, with 124 (60.2%) were mothers, and 82 (39.8%) were fathers. The age group of parents included are as follows: 18.9 % in 20 - 29 years age group, 51.9 % in 30 - 39 years age range, and 29.1 % in 40 and older. The current knowledge of parents on the definition of fissure sealants was inadequate, with just 15% of parents having a better description of the term. There was no significant difference between parents' knowledge and gender, education level, and occupational status. The majority of parents in this research had limited knowledge about fissure sealants and fluoride treatment. Dentists play an important role in raising parental awareness. According to the results of this study, parents' knowledge of fissure sealant therapy and fluoride therapy is lacking. Knowledge gained primarily from dentists, followed by the internet, friends, and finally, the media. On the other hand, government services should spend more significant resources on caries prevention programs to provide parents with knowledge on preventive dentistry