Patient Management
Erika M. Urgiles, DDS (she/her/hers)
PGY-II
Jacobi Medical Center, New York, NY
Jacobi Medical Center
New York, New York, United States
Keith Margulis, DDS, MPH
Jacobi Medical Center, New York, NY
Farhad Yeroshalmi, DMD, FAAPD, FICD
Program Director
Jacobi Medical Center
Bronx, New York, United States
Victor Badner, DMD
Jacobi Medical Center
Farhad Yeroshalmi, DMD, FAAPD, FICD
Program Director
Jacobi Medical Center
Bronx, New York, United States
Purpose: This qualitative study sought to identify the potential impact of cultural beliefs on oral health practices of caregivers of pediatric patients treated in a hospital setting from three Hispanic sub-populations.
Methods: Questionnaires were completed by twenty caregivers of children 1-5 years old from three sub-groups: Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, and Dominicans. All of the interviews were conducted in Spanish. Subjects were asked 8 demographic and 11 open-ended questions regarding past dental experiences, influences on current dental practices, and attitudes toward the primary dentition and dental diseases.
Results: Pending. Preliminary findings show that among all groups beliefs about primary teeth created barriers to receiving dental care. In all groups, fathers compared to mothers articulated beliefs that dental care for primary teeth was of less importance than dental care for permanent teeth while mothers expressed value for both. Misconceptions regarding preventative care were most prevalent among the Mexican community, citing pain as a reason for their child’s first dental visit. Stained teeth motivated Puerto Ricans to visit the dentist while Dominicans and Mexicans cited that improved brushing at home to remove stains would suffice. In Dominicans, grandmothers had great influence over dental decisions.
Conclusions: Pending. The cultural beliefs of the three sub-populations of the Hispanic community were generally similar. However, targeted opportunities exist for oral health improvement when accounting for the different cultures among Hispanic subpopulations.