Knowledge and awareness regarding primary teeth and their importance amongst postgraduate students of specialty other than pediatric dentistry in and around Vadodara city, India – A questionnaire survey

Abstract

Abstract

Primary teeth play an inevitable role in eating, phonetics, esthetics and also act as a space

maintainer for permanent teeth. Therefore, their retention with a timely checkup and proper intervention due to caries is required till eruption of permanent teeth. This is to prevent the early tooth loss due to caries which is more frequent scenario. This is due to unawareness, ignorance and negligence amongst parents about children’s oral hygiene resulting in delay for early caries detection and required dental treatment. Moreover, there are also differences in approach to treating a pulpally involved primary tooth among general dentist, other specialist dentist as compared to a Pedodontist.

Aim- To determine the knowledge, awareness and perception of post graduate students of other specialties regarding primary teeth and their importance in children

Method- A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the knowledge, awareness and perception of post graduate students of other specialties regarding primary teeth and their importance. It consisted of a structured questionnaire of 15 multiple choice questions in English language. It was distributed to post graduate students of different specialities except pediatrics and preventive dentistry of three different colleges after obtaining their consent. Content

validation of the questionnaire was done using test-retest method. The data collected was

entered in the Master chart using Microsoft excel 2007. Statistical analysis was performed through SPSS software and Pearson’s Chi square test was used for the same.

Results- Out of 139 survey respondents, the majority (82.01%) were aware of the importance of

primary teeth and gave an opinion for saving infected primary teeth by doing pulp therapy.

But, most of the respondents opted for behavioural management followed by high time consumption and their lack of knowledge in pediatric dentistry as the most common reasons for not opting for endodontic treatment in primary molars. Also, 96 (69.06%) respondents were aware about the concept of a dental home.

Conclusion: Awareness of proper treatment modalities for primary teeth among different specialities will aid in proper treatment planning and protocol and enhance retention of primary teeth until the time of eruption of permanent teeth.