Preventive methods of dental caries is a problem of most general practitioners yet: A survey of knowledge, attitude and practice

Document Type : Original Article(s)

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Oral and Dental Diseases Research Center AND Kerman Social Determinants on Oral Health Research Center AND Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

2 Professor, Oral and Dental Diseases Research Center AND Kerman Social Determinants on Oral Health Research Center AND Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

3 Dentist, Private Practice, Kerman, Iran

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIM: It is clear that education of parents and physicians regarding the importance of caries prevention will improve children’s dental health. Most of the times pediatric and general dentists are dependent on the knowledge base and attitude of pediatricians and family practice physicians for referral of infants and young children in need of preventive and restorative care. This study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practice of general dental practitioners and pediatricians in relation to techniques used to prevent dental caries, including use of fissure sealants and fluoride therapy, in the south-east of Iran.METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between 399 general practitioners and pediatricians in the south-east of Iran. Data collected through a self-administered questionnaire consisted of demographic characteristics, questions that evaluating, knowledge, attitude and practice level regarding preventive methods of dental caries. Then, scores were given to each question and sum of the scores was categorized to weak, moderate and good. These scores were evaluated as follows: < 50%: weak, 50-75%: moderate, and > 75%: good. Data analyzed by SPSS using independent-sample t-test and linear regression models.RESULTS: In this study, 399 questionnaires were completed including 352 (88.2%) general practitioners and 47 (11.8%) pediatricians. The findings indicated that general practitioners and pediatricians had moderate knowledge (52.6%), good attitude (76.9%), and moderate practice (38.6%) regarding preventive methods of dental caries.CONCLUSION: Although general practitioners and pediatricians have more communication and closer relationship with target group of caries unfortunately, they had not desirable knowledge and practice regarding fluoride and fissure sealant therapy.

Keywords

References

  1. Public Health Service, Office of the Surgeon General National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Oral health in America: A report of the Surgeon General. Bethesda, MD: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research; 2000.
  2. McDonald RE, Avery DR, Dean JA. Dentistry for the child and adolescent. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Mosby; 2011.
  3. Mouradian WE, Schaad DC, Kim S, Leggott PJ, Domoto PS, Maier R, et al. Addressing disparities in children's oral health: a dental medical partnership to train family practice residents. J Dent Educ 2003; 67(8): 886-95.
  4. Calonge N. Prevention of dental caries in preschool children: recommendations and rationale. Am J Prev Med 2004; 26(4): 326-9.
  5. Krol DM. Educating pediatricians on children's oral health: past, present, and future. Pediatrics 2004; 113(5): e487-e492.
  6. Pinkham JR. The dynamics of change. In: Pinkham JR, Casamassimo P, Nowak M, Editors. Pediatric dentistry: Infancy through adolescence. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2005.
  7. Bowman PA, Zinner KL. Utah's parent, teacher, and physician sealant awareness surveys. J Dent Hyg 1994; 68(6): 279-85.
  8. Bozorgmehr E, Malek Mohammadi T, Hajizamani A, Vahidi A, Khajoee F. Knowledge, attitude, and practices of pediatricians about children's oral health. J Oral Health Oral Epidemiol 2012; 1(2): 93-8.
  9. Yahya BN, Solmaz S. The knowledge, approach and function of pediatricians in prevention of caries in Tehran. J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent 2004; 22(3): 148-53.
  10. Di Giuseppe G, Nobile CG, Marinelli A, Angelillo IF. Knowledge, attitude and practices of pediatricians regarding the prevention of oral diseases in Italy. BMC Public Health 2006; 6: 176.
  11. Eslamipour F, Birang R, Rahimi N, Bakrani MR. Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Physicians and Pediatricians Regarding the Prevention of Oral Disease in IsfahanChildren. J Dent Shiraz Univ Med Sci 2010; 11(3): 253-61. [In Persian].
  12. Lewis CW, Cantrell DC, Domoto PK. Oral health in the pediatric practice setting: a survey of Washington State pediatricians. J Public Health Dent 2004; 64(2): 111-4.
  13. dela Cruz GG, Rozier RG, Slade G. Dental screening and referral of young children by pediatric primary care providers. Pediatrics 2004; 114(5): e642-e652.
  14. Kumari NR, Sheela S, Sarada PN. Knowledge and attitude on infant oral health among graduating medical students in Kerala. J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent 2006; 24(4): 173-6.
  15. Sanchez OM, Childers NK, Fox L, Bradley E. Physicians' views on pediatric preventive dental care. Pediatr Dent 1997; 19(6): 377-83.
  16. Jose B, King NM. Early childhood caries lesions in preschool children in Kerala, India. Pediatr Dent 2003; 25(6): 594-600.
  17. Zanata RL, Navarro MF, Pereira JC, Franco EB, Lauris JR, Barbosa SH. Effect of caries preventive measures directed to expectant mothers on caries experience in their children. Braz Dent J 2003; 14(2): 75-81.
  18. Graham E, Negron R, Domoto P, Milgrom P. Children's oral health in the medical curriculum: a collaborative intervention at a university-affiliated hospital. J Dent Educ 2003; 67(3): 338-47.
Journal of Oral Health and Oral Epidemiology
Volume 5, Issue 4 - Serial Number 4
120
December 2016
Pages 198-204

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 05 December 2016
  • Revise Date: 23 April 2024
  • Accept Date: 12 March 2019

Share

How to cite

Statistics