[Parental information about the basic causes for dental-jaw deformities].

A total of 610 parents of children from pediatric institutions have been questioned in connection with their information about some of the basic causes of dental-jaw deformities and about their information sources. The results obtained reveal that the parents carefully observe in their children and detect almost always their harmful habits as sucking and oral breathing. What they lack is proper information and motivation to timely cope with those causes as well as to ask for the aid of the stomatologist when necessary. According to the parents, the most important is the role of the stomatologist and the mass media for their information. It is necessary, however, a more active use of those means as well as of the other health and educational workers associated with the rearing and education of the children so as to achieve a more effective health educational activity.