Caries risk assessment and the use of oral health services among preschool-aged children in relation to family situation, guidelines, and legislation
Thesis event information
Date and time of the thesis defence
Place of the thesis defence
Markku Larmas -sali (H1091), Aapistie 3, Kontinkangas Campus
Topic of the dissertation
Caries risk assessment and the use of oral health services among preschool-aged children in relation to family situation, guidelines, and legislation
Doctoral candidate
Licentiate of Dentistry Anna-Maria Pelkonen
Faculty and unit
University of Oulu Graduate School, Faculty of Medicine, Research Unit of Population Health
Subject of study
Dentistry
Opponent
Docent Merja Laine, University of Turku
Custos
Professor Marja-Liisa Laitala, University of Oulu
Caries risk assessment and the use of oral health services among preschool-aged children in relation to family situation, guidelines, and legislation
The aim of this study was to investigate risk factors for caries in preschool-aged children and to examine the assessment of individual caries risk and the documentation of these measures in patient records. The study focused particularly on children’s family situations and their use of oral health care services in relation to national legislation and guidelines.
Register data were collected from the oral health care services and maternity and child health clinics of 206 randomly selected children born in Oulu. Information on the use of maternity and child health clinics and oral health care services, caries risk factors, and individual caries risk
assessments was extracted from the registers.
The results showed that children with accumulated risk factors had caries lesions more frequently. In addition, a challenging life situation and missed appointments at both maternity and child health clinics and oral health care services were associated with caries in children. Individual caries risk was not considered when setting recall intervals.
The oral health care professionals rarely assessed or documented individual caries risk. They seldom responded to missed appointments or documented a potential need for child protection services. Interprofessional collaboration was scarce. There were shortcomings in compliance with national guidelines, and statutory oral health care services were not provided equitably.
Register data were collected from the oral health care services and maternity and child health clinics of 206 randomly selected children born in Oulu. Information on the use of maternity and child health clinics and oral health care services, caries risk factors, and individual caries risk
assessments was extracted from the registers.
The results showed that children with accumulated risk factors had caries lesions more frequently. In addition, a challenging life situation and missed appointments at both maternity and child health clinics and oral health care services were associated with caries in children. Individual caries risk was not considered when setting recall intervals.
The oral health care professionals rarely assessed or documented individual caries risk. They seldom responded to missed appointments or documented a potential need for child protection services. Interprofessional collaboration was scarce. There were shortcomings in compliance with national guidelines, and statutory oral health care services were not provided equitably.
Created 6.11.2026 | Updated 9.11.2026