Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Preventive Dentistry Among Private Dental Practitioners in Vadodara, India

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ABSTRACT Background Private dentists’ knowledge and attitude on preventive dentistry may influence their practice and contribute to oral health of individuals and community. The objective of the study was to investigate the preventive orientation of private dental practitioners in Vadodara (India) through a questionnaire study. Methodology A cross-sectional self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted among Indian Dental Association-enrolled private dentists in Vadodara. The 37-item pre-tested questionnaire included questions about personal and professional characteristics and items to assess knowledge, attitude, practice and barriers related to preventive dentistry. Statistical methods included descriptive statistics and chi-square and correlation analysis using Pearson's Correlation coefficient. Results 82 of 140 eligible respondents filled the questionnaire (response rate: 58.57%). Majority were BDS degree holders (64.63%). Most dentists had solo-practice (65.85%) and had a work experience of 1-10 years (56.10%). 75% reported reading national and/or international dental journals. 62.20% claimed to have attended Continuing Dental Education programmes within the last year and interest was expressed by 89.02%. Majority (80.49%) possessed above average knowledge. Knowledge was higher among least experienced groups compared to the most experienced groups and it was statistically significant. 48.78% of respondents exhibited highly favourable attitude. Frequently rendered preventive measures were oral hygiene instructions, anti-tobacco advice and dietary advices practiced by 86.59%, 80.49% and 43.90% of dentists respectively. Oral cancer screening, fluoride and sealants were done by most dentists on risk basis. Lead protection was ignored by 43.90%. Most dentists perceived patient-related barriers as most impeding to preventive care. No correlation was observed between knowledge and attitude. Conclusion Preventive orientation of private dentists in Vadodara was encouraging with scope for improvement.