Individual Structural Social Capital and Its Association with Untreated Dental Caries and Gingival Bleeding among 15-year-old Schoolchildren

presence of churches, worker associations, and cultural events provide insight into collective social capital. 5he idea of social capital is being used more to assist programmers and policymakers in understanding how formal and informal networks within and among communities can promote improved accountability and governance, as well as enhance health, health financing, and the equitable provision of healthcare services. 7,8n expanding body of international research underscores the potential impact of social capital on oral health. 1,4,5Most studies indicate an inverse relationship between social capital and dental caries experiences. 9-12Additionally, Kumar et al. 13 found that children's caries experiences were associated with the social control IntroductIonSocial capital, as defined by Putnam (1995), refers to "features of social organization such as networks, norms, and social trust that facilitate coordination and cooperation for mutual benefit." 1 Despite limited expertise in evaluating social capital, existing research has highlighted key considerations for its assessment. [2][3]][4][5] Social capital is commonly categorized into two categories: structural and cognitive, which represent the quantitative and qualitative facets of social capital, respectively. 3Structural social capital (SSC) refers to the presence or absence of formal mechanisms that enable individuals to form social networks (SN) and bonds.In contrast, cognitive social capital encompasses individuals' subjective values and perceptions, including trust, reciprocity, and social support. 4dditionally, social capital can be classified into bonding and bridging types.Bonding social capital pertains to close-knit relationships among individuals with similar social backgrounds, such as family and friends, while bridging social capital involves weaker ties between individuals from diverse sociodemographic backgrounds. 6ndicators or proxies that are conceptually connected to the idea of social capital are frequently used to quantify it at the individual and collective levels.SNs are primarily used to evaluate social capital at the individual level.At the individual level, SNs serve as key measures, including the frequency of friendships, participation in volunteer organizations, and engagement in religious activities.At the community level, proxies such as the 1-