Common, Academic and Professional Knowledge of Human Tooth Bank

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the knowledge of laymen, undergraduate dental students and dentists of Human Tooth Bank (HTB). Methods: Observational study with non-probabilistic sample. One-hundred-and-fifty subjects (50 dentists, 50 undergraduate dental students and 50 laymen) were interviewed about their knowledge of donation of organs, valuing of the tooth as an organ, HTB, the use and origin of teeth used in dental schools and acceptance of biological restorations. Results: As much as 97.6% of the interviewees were favorable to organ donation, but only 48% declared themselves as organ donors. The tooth was considered an organ by 94% of the dentists, 90% of the students and 54% of the laymen. During the graduation course, 90% of the dentists and 86% of the undergraduate students confirmed the use of human teeth obtained from dental offices or cemeteries. For improvement of research and teaching purposes, 94% of the students and dentists considered important the implementation of HTBs; however, only 2% of the students, 6% of the laymen and 28% of the dentists declared being familiar with a HTB. Most of the interviewees (90%) were favorable to the donation of teeth to HTBs, but only 44% of them would accept a biological restoration, alleging “repulsion” and the existence of alternative restorative materials. Conclusion: Most interviewed individuals were favorable to tooth donation to a HTB, but ignored its existence as well as the ethical and biosecurity guidelines regulating the maintenance of private tooth collections.