AIM: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the awareness of parents about the dental caries among the school going children in chennai.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to investigate the dental caries awareness in the different medium school children by questionnaire method.

BACKGROUND: The dental caries is one of the most common infectious diseases all over the world. Overall dental caries is more severe in the baby teeth of 4-11 years children than the permanent tooth. However, an active effort of the school authority and dental health care team can make a awareness program more effective and also make a parents more aware

about the dental caries prevention and milk tooth preservation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Total 80 parents from different socioeconomic groups participated in the study. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire addressing various aspects of knowledge and attitude of parents toward oral health and treatment modalities

Awareness among parents was significantly lower in low socioeconomic group. Their attitude toward dental treatment differed significantly in high socioeconomic group preferred going to the pediatric dentist.

CONCLUSION: The level of awareness among parents is relatively low and there is need for the implementation of oral health awareness programs for parents to change their attitude toward dental treatment of their children

KEY WORDS: dental caries, oral health program, school children's.