Prevalence of Pediatric Preventive Dental Visits Among Children in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Early preventive dental visits are critical to reducing oral diseases in children and establishing lifelong oral hygiene behaviors. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that a child's first dental visit occur by age one. However, in Saudi Arabia, limited evidence exists on parental awareness, attitudes, and barriers toward this recommendation. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the timing of the first dental visit among Saudi children and to identify parental knowledge, barriers, and sociodemographic factors associated with compliance with AAPD guidelines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between April and July 2025 at the Pediatric Dental Clinic, King Saud University, Riyadh. A validated, self-administered Arabic questionnaire was distributed both online and in-clinic to Saudi parents of children under 12 years. A total of 465 completed responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, logistic regression, and Spearman correlation to assess associations between parental awareness, socioeconomic variables, and compliance. RESULTS: Of the 465 respondents, 39.6% were aware of AAPD guidelines, yet only 30.5% reported compliance with the recommendation of a dental visit by age one. The most cited barriers were lack of time (42%), difficulty accessing clinics (22%), shortage of pediatric dentists (20%), and lack of awareness (16%). Higher parental education (p = 0.003) and income (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with compliance. A moderate positive correlation was observed between early dental visits and regular annual check-ups (ρ = 0.319). CONCLUSIONS: Compliance with AAPD guidelines among Saudi parents remains low, largely due to limited awareness and access barriers. Strengthening parental education, community-based programs, and affordable pediatric dental services is essential to promote preventive care and improve oral health outcomes in children.