| Summary: | Background: Due to legacies of colonization and inequities in social determinants of health, First Nations children experience high rates of early childhood caries (ECC), and in some of these cases, require full mouth rehabilitation under general anesthesia. This study investigates the dental experiences contributing to ECC in status First Nation children requiring dental rehabilitation under general anesthetic for treatment. Methods: All parent(s)/caregiver(s) presenting to the Children’s Dental Clinic at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba with registered First Nation children requiring dental surgery under general anesthesia for ECC were invited to participate. Participants (n=12) engaged in a semi-structured conversational method. This study followed grounded theory approach and data analysis was performed using Dedoose software. Results: Using grounded theory, three categories emerged from the data: experiencing barriers to dental care; identifying unique experiences and challenges to First Nation communities; and lastly identifying direct contributors to ECC. Conclusion: First Nations children and families present with various obstacles and complications when it comes to oral health and accessing oral health care. This study identifies and discusses some those barriers and hardships in a social context. October 2020
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