Table 1 Key problems of poor oral health in children and proposed opportunities according to multidisciplinary professionals

Child

Uncooperative and resistant behaviour

Child-centred communication approach in collaboration with parents

Unhealthy diet

Early prevention

Poor oral hygiene

Child-friendly oral health materials

Unpleasant dental care experiences

Self-efficacy of children

Family

Parental beliefs that caries is beyond their control

Parental-centred communication approach

Limited parental interest in child’s oral health

Increase awareness of child’s oral health

Lack of parental supervision

Oral health education

Poor parental coping

Provision of oral health materials

Unhealthy dietary practices for child

Self-efficacy of parents

Limited preventive visitations to dental care

Social support (family members)

Low oral health literacy

Inform parents on the importance of child oral health at different locations

Daily living conditions

Collaborate with families

Cultural differences

Take into account family needs

Society - community

Limited community oral health environment

Collaborate with key figures in the community

Lack of general importance on child oral health

(Social) media campaigns

Society – (non)dental organisations

Current procedures of dental practices, general health care, social and welfare organisations

Increased availability of oral health information throughout neighbourhood and organisations

Time constraints of current consults of dental practices, general health care, social and welfare organisations

Sense of shared responsibility in child oral health promotion

Limited knowledge in (child) oral health by non-oral health professionals

Collaborative action among professionals working within and beyond the oral health sector

Limited skills in effective oral health communication

Setting up new collaborations

Family’s needs for oral health are unknown

Increase the visibility of child oral health beyond the dental care setting