Assessing Pediatric Dentists’ Communication Skills Regarding Oral Health Literacy: A Cross-Sectional Study

Aim: This study aimed to assess the communication-based oral health literacy (OHL) skills of pediatric dentists in Türkiye and to identify individual and institutional factors influencing these skills. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between July 1, 2024, and January 10, 2025, with 127 pediatric dentists who had completed postgraduate training and were actively practicing. Participants completed a 20-item structured online questionnaire designed to assess demographic features and communication competencies related to OHL. Statistical analyses included Mann–Whitney U, Kruskal–Wallis, Spearman correlation, and linear regression tests, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results: No statistically significant difference was found between genders in communication scores (p = 0.62). Age was positively correlated with communication-based oral health literacy skills (ρ = 0.36, p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in communication scores between pediatric dentists with and without prior communication training (p = 0.16). Linear regression revealed that age was a significant predictor of communication scores (β = 0.074, p < 0.001), whereas training status did not emerge as a statistically significant predictor (β = -0.76, p = 0.06). The model accounted for 15.1% of the variance in communication scores. Conclusion: Communication-based oral health literacy skills among pediatric dentists in Türkiye are primarily influenced by age, experience, and institutional factors. The results emphasize the need for applied communication training, curricular enhancements, and institutional arrangements that allocate time for effective patient-dentist interaction. These efforts can strengthen clinical communication and contribute to the promotion of oral health literacy at the community level.