The recognition and attitude of student's parents of elementary school on the sealant and its operation by dental hygienists

Objectives: The aim of this study was to look at elementary school student parents’ recognition of pit and fissure sealant, national health insurance application and recognition of and attitude toward dental hygienist’s treatment for pit and fissure sealant. Methods: The subject of study was parents of children in the 3rd and 4th grades at an elementary school in Jeonju city. To consider those parents’ socio-economic factors of elementary school grade level classified by Education Office, ‘A: highest socio-economic’ level and ‘D: lowest socio-economic’ level, elementary school student parents were surveyed. In this study, a set of questionnaire was distributed to student’s parents, a total of 23 questions on recognition and attitude for pit and fissure sealant by national health insurance system, treatment of sealing by dental hygienist. The statistical analysis of the data collected was done by using SPSS 12.0. Results: Of the student parents, the percentage of those who recognized that national health insurance covers the pit and fissure sealant was 36.9% only. The percentage of parents who did not know was larger than that of those who knew. Of the student parents, those who had once or more received treatment of the pit and fissure sealant by dental hygienist were highly satisfied and their attitude were also very positive about dental hygienist’s ability to operate the pit and fissure sealant. Conclusions: The higher the recognition rate of pit and fissure sealant can be covered national insurance system, the lesser consumer’s burden.