Background/Objectives: Children with Down syndrome are predisposed to various oro-dental conditions, which can impact their oral-health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and overall well-being. Given their critical role, parents’ and caregivers’ perceptions are essential for understanding the challenges in oral care access and quality. This narrative review aimed to synthesise the available evidence on parental and caregiver perceptions regarding oral health, OHRQoL, and dental care access for children with Down syndrome. Methods: A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, covering studies published between January 2015 and January 2025. The search included the keywords “Down syndrome”, “oral health”, “oral health-related quality of life”, “caregivers”, “parents”, “dental care access”, and “special needs children”. Thirteen studies were included after applying eligibility criteria, which selected original research focusing on the target population and themes. Results: The findings highlighted that oral health significantly affects the quality of life of children with Down syndrome, influencing their functional, emotional, and social well-being. Caregivers often reported a gap between perceived and clinically observed oral health. Barriers to dental care access included insufficient training of dental professionals, financial constraints, systemic limitations, and perceived biases. Variations across different countries also revealed the influence of cultural and healthcare system factors. Conclusions: Oral health plays a critical role in the lives of children with Down syndrome and their families. Strengthening caregiver education, improving communication, validating adapted OHRQoL instruments, and enhancing dental professionals’ training in special needs care are crucial steps to ensure equitable and family-centred oral healthcare.

Background/Objectives: Early childhood oral health is strongly influenced by parental and caregiver behaviors, yet evidence on the impact of sociodemographic factors remains limited in Eastern European settings. This study evaluated the association between parental and caregiver sociodemographic characteristics (age, educational level, and living environment) and oral health-related behaviors, dental attendance, and caries experience among preschool children in Romania. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among parents or caregivers of children aged 0–6 years (n = 490). Data were collected between September and November 2025 using a structured online questionnaire (24 items). Statistical analyses included Fisher’s exact test, Mann–Whitney U test, Kruskal–Wallis test with post hoc analysis, and Spearman’s correlation (p < 0.05). Results: Higher parental education was consistently associated with favorable oral health behaviors, including earlier initiation of oral hygiene, parent-assisted toothbrushing, use of fluoridated toothpaste, and preventive dental visits (p < 0.01). Children of parents aged 21–30 years were more frequently caries-free (62.7%), whereas caries prevalence was higher among those with parents aged 41–50 years (60.5%) (p < 0.05). Urban residence was associated with twice-daily toothbrushing (49.4% vs. 36.2%) and earlier dental visits compared with rural residence (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Parental education, age, and living environment are significantly associated with early oral health behaviors and caries experience. Preventive programs should prioritize families with lower educational levels and those living in rural areas.

Background/Objectives: Dental caries remains one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in childhood, influenced by a combination of hygiene, dietary, and access-related behaviours that are largely shaped by parental involvement. This study aimed to evaluate oral hygiene habits, dietary risk factors, access to dental services, awareness of caries prevention, and the impact of oral health on the child, in relation to parent-reported dental caries in Romanian children and adolescents. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a structured online questionnaire completed by parents or legal guardians of 508 children and adolescents aged under 18 years. Associations between categorical variables and reported caries were assessed using chi-square tests and Cramér’s V. Ordinal variables were compared using the Mann–Whitney U test. A multivariable logistic regression identified independent predictors of reported caries, with robustness examined through sensitivity analyses. Results: Parent-reported caries was present in 61.2% of children. The strongest associations with caries were the absence of parental supervision during brushing (Cramér’s V = 0.364), the age at which children began brushing unsupervised (V = 0.354), and the reason for the last dental visit (V = 0.426). In the multivariable model, older age, absence of brushing supervision, sweets before bedtime, less frequent dental visits, and rural residence were independent predictors (all p < 0.05; Nagelkerke R² = 0.361). All six assessed dimensions of oral-health impact on the child were significantly associated with caries, with physical discomfort showing the largest effect (V = 0.349). Conclusions: Parent-reported caries risk in this population clustered around a small number of modifiable behaviours rather than any single dominant factor, while reported caries was associated with a substantial burden on children’s daily functioning. These findings point to sustained parental supervision and routine, non-symptomatic dental care as priority targets for future prevention efforts, although intervention studies are needed to confirm their effectiveness.