To explore factors affecting children’s dental attendance among new immigrants. Participants in this cross-sectional study were 314 new immigrant child-parent pairs. Parents’ demographics, oral health knowledge, perceptions, child’s caries status, and oral health behaviours were analysed as determinants for dental attendance. Only 43 % of children had a dental visit within the year. Parents believing in the effectiveness of parental checking were four times more likely to seek dental care for their child [adjusted OR (adOR) 4.48, 95 % CI 1.79–11.13]. Parents perceiving dental check-up as a painful experience were 67 % less likely to visit the dentist (adOR 0.33, 95 % CI 0.17–0.63). Lack of insurance and time reduced the odds of a dental visit by 65 and 59 %, respectively (adOR 0.35, 95 % CI 0.16–0.68; adOR 0.41, 95 % CI 0.12–0.99). The care-seeking behaviour of new immigrant children was determined by parents’ perceived ability to detect caries, availability of time and dental insurance, and their perceived dental experience. © 2016, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Health services accessibility immigrants dental care utilization Oral health perceptions Healthcare disparities

Parents perception insurance health insurance human Insurance Coverage time factor Time Factors Dental Care for Children ethnology dental procedure Cross-Sectional Studies cross-sectional study migrant psychology Humans parent male Emigrants and Immigrants preschool child Socioeconomic Factors Infant Child, Preschool female socioeconomics dental caries Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice utilization patient attitude Patient Acceptance of Health Care attitude to health Insurance, Dental Child