Evaluating of Knowledge of Dentists in Relation to Causes, Symptoms and Treatment of Xerostomia in Yazd City in 2022-2023

Abstract

Introduction: Saliva has a key role in protecting the oral environment and functions such as chewing, swallowing, lack of saliva can cause many problems and suffering for patients and affect people's quality of life. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the level of awareness of dentists in Yazd City regarding the causes and symptoms and how to treat dry mouth in 2022-2023.
 Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 125 dentists of Yazd City were selected by convenience sampling method. A valid and reliable questionnaire was designed. The data were analyzed using t-test and ANOVA statistical tests and SPSS V.16.
 Results: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 125 dentists in Yazd City; they were selected by convenience sampling method, 65 of them were male (51.2%) and 60 were female (48.8%). The average of age, work experience and knowledge score of the examined dentists were 33.46±7.27, 6.79±6.57 and 15.24±2.90, respectively. There was no statistically significant relationship between knowledge score and gender and work experience and participate in retraining with P = 0.323, P = 0.120 and P = 0.167, respectively. But there was a statistically significant relationship between the knowledge score and age and university of study with P = 0.030 and P = 0.034. People with older age and educated in type 1 university had more knowledge about dry mouth.
 Conclusion: The results showed that the dentists of Yazd City had average knowledge about the causes, symptoms and how to treat xerostomia. And it is necessary to cooperate in holding refresher courses in this field.