Dental Awareness Research Articles

Frequency of dental caries in 1-5 years aged children and its impact on their quality of life

Oral diseases can vastly depreciate the individual’s quality of life. It has also been considered as the most important oral health burden worldwide. It can also have significant implications on the functional, mental, and social well-being of the individual. This has been found as a preventable dental and oral health issue which have also been amongst the most prevalent chronic disease. Objectives: To estimate the frequency of dental caries and its impact on the quality of children’s life in Hafiz- Abad, Pakistan. Methods: It was a cross sectional analytics based study spanning around nine months. Three hundred and seventy children (aged between 1-5 years) were included as subjects, who visited the District Headquarter (DHQ) hospital, Hafiz Abad, Lahore, Pakistan. Dental caries were measured by using decayed missing filled (DMF) index. Data was collected and analyzed by using SPSS version 23.0. Results: A high prevalence frequency of 243 (65.7%) were found suffering from dental caries. High prevalence of dental caries (70%) in children of low literate parents has been found statistically significant (p=0.035). As far as brushing frequency is concerned 93.8% children were not found brushing their teeth prior to breakfast. Theassociation between brushing frequency prior to breakfast and formation of dental caries was found statistically significant (p<0.001). Conclusion:High prevalence of dental caries coupled with high severity level was found associated with the worse dental and oral hygiene awareness levels amongst the preschool children and their parents

Investigation of Dentists' Opinions on Pharmacovigilance and Reporting of Adverse Effects

Objective: In this study, it was aimed to examine the experience, knowledge, and awareness of dentists about adverse drug effects and pharmacovigilance. 
 Methods: In this cross-sectional and descriptive study, a 15-question questionnaire was applied to 100 dentists who are working at Diyarbakir Oral and Dental Health Hospital to evaluate their knowledge, attitudes and practices about adverse effects and pharmacovigilance. 
 Results: 55 percent of dentists stated that they had never encountered an adverse drug reaction (ADR) in their professional life. Even though 45 percent of them reported that they have rarely seen ADR in their professional life, the total number of declarations has been determined as 7.78% of dentists are aware that declaration is required and this is a professional responsibility (86%). Physicians stated that they had no idea how to report ADRs with their current knowledge (81%) and subject of pharmacovigilance was not well covered in the dental education (55%). 86% of them stated that education on this subject should be taken at undergraduate level (internship, education, clinical assignment) and 58% stated that it should be taken in their working life after graduation. 
 Conclusion: This study showed that the dentists participating in the study had a lack of awareness and knowledge about pharmacovigilance and ADR. It was observed that the rate of ADR reporting among physicians was very low compared to the encounter rate. Inclusion of pharmacovigilance in the educational program and providing pre- and post-graduate training to dentists for declaration practices can contribute positively to public health.

A randomized, 3-month, parallel-group clinical trial to compare the efficacy of electric 3-dimensional toothbrushes vs manual toothbrushes in maintaining oral health in patients with fixed orthodontic appliances

The aim of this single-blinded, parallel-group, randomized clinical trial was to compare the efficacy of electric 3-dimensional (3D) toothbrushes and manual toothbrushes in removing plaque and reducing gingival inflammation in orthodontic patients. Eighty adolescents with fixed orthodontic appliances in both arches were randomized at a 1:1 ratio, with an equal number of both sexes, in this examiner blinded, parallel clinical trial. Eligibility criteria included subjects aged between 12 and 16years, good general health, nonextraction orthodontic treatment, and plaque-induced gingivitis, excluding patients with active caries or periodontitis, tooth agenesis, syndromes, disabilities, and craniofacial deformities, ≥2 cervical and/or proximal fillings, dental prostheses or dental implants, and subjects smoking or using antibiotics or medication predisposing to gingival enlargement. Patients were assigned to use either an electric 3D orthodontic toothbrush (Oral-B Pro-1000 with Oral-B Ortho head; Procter & Gamble, Cincinnati, Ohio) or a manual toothbrush (Oral-B Orthodontic brush; Procter & Gamble) and instructed to brush twice daily for 2minutes. The main outcomes were: (1) plaque removal, assessed with the Modified Silness and Löe plaque index and the Modified Full Mouth Plaque Score, and (2) gingival inflammation reduction, assessed with the Modified Silness and Löe Gingival Index and the Modified Simplified Gingival Index. Measurements were taken at baseline, 1, 2, and 3months. Randomization was achieved with 2 random sequences, one for each brush, written and sealed in opaque numbered envelopes. Blinding was possible for outcome assessment only. Considerable variability was observed among patients in the values of all dependent variables. There was no difference between interventions over time for any of the outcomes, and the main effects for treatment and time were also not statistically significant. For Modified Silness and Löe plaque index, the interaction was 0.001 (95% confidence interval, -0.011 to 0.013; P=0.89). No difference in plaque removal efficacy and gingival inflammation reduction was found between the electric 3D and manual toothbrushes in adolescents with fixed orthodontic appliances. Therefore, orthodontists should focus on enhancing their patients' dental awareness and oral hygiene, along with professional prophylaxis and other oral hygiene aids, independently of the brush used. This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT02699931). The protocol was not published before trial commencement. Electric and manual toothbrushes and toothpastes for all participants were provided by Procter & Gamble (Oral-B). Miscellaneous costs were covered by the participating departments.

PREMOLAR AGENESİS PREVALENCE AND PATTERNS IN A SAMPLE OF TURKISH CHILDREN

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of premolar tooth agenesis patterns in Turkish children and confirm a valid cutoff age.
 Methods: Included in this study were panoramic radiographs of 3637 Turkish pediatric patients aged 7–12 years (1819 males and 1818 females), whose panoramic radiographs were taken. . The prevalence of premolar hypodontia, sex distribution, distribution of premolar hypodontia in the maxilla and mandible, unilateral/bilateral incidences and cutoff ages were examined in radiographs.
 Results: The prevalence rate of agenesis of one or more premolars was 3.1% (n = 111) for both sexes combined, and 1.4% for boys and 1.6% for girls, with no significant difference between the sexes (p = 0.498). No significant difference was observed between younger and older groups at the cutoff ages examined
 Conclusion: An early diagnosis of premolar agenesis enables ideal and conservative treatment planning, which may involve less invasive treatment options for patients diagnosed in the early period. For these reasons, the awareness of dentists regarding these treatments should be enhanced. Therefore, there is a need for more studies regarding the prevalence of this condition, which will provide important clinical value in the timely diagnosis of hypodontia.

Awareness of medical emergencies among dental practitioners in three Egyptian Dental Schools: A cross-sectional study

Objectives: To evaluate the awareness of medical emergencies among dental practitioners in three dental schools. Material and methods: The study group included 384 dental practitioners, including dental staff members, post-graduate students, and dental interns. These professionals were attending three dental educational institutions in Egypt. Two of them were governmental and one was a private school. The educational model is almost the same in most Egyptian dental schools. Results: The response rate was 100%. Most of the participants worked in private academia (44.16%) or practice (42.34%) and 65.20% of them were females. The participants recorded medical history and filled a form (91.17%, 80.52 % respectively) while only 41.82% obtained the vital signs. Among the participants, 48.57 % were confident about handling medical emergency and 74.29 % reported their capability of intramuscular injection while only 25.71 % for intravenous injection and 49.35% knew about emergency kits. Management knowledge of airway obstruction and prosthetic heart valve patients was reported by 80.27 % and 71.94 % respectively, while less percentage for activation of EMS, chest compression, CPR ratio, and infant rescue breathing. The mean preparedness percent score was 54.57% and it was inversely correlated to the years of experiences and directly correlated to the degree of confidence in their ability to manage the dental emergency. Conclusion: The current study results reflected a deficiency in the dental practitioner awareness about the medical emergency especially the practical part. Keywords Dentists; Cross-sectional studies; Emergencies; Educational models; Dental schools.

The commitment of dentists to prescribe antibiotics in modern conditions

The aim of this research was to study different patterns of antibacterial drugs prescribing in dentistry practice in Central Asian region. The online survey of 108 dentists was conducted. The online questionnaire included 18 questions. Almost half of respondents (42,1%) frequently prescribed antibiotics. The most preferred antibiotics were from the group of penicillin (46.6% of cases). The following groups of antibiotics also were prescribed by dentists: fluoroquinolones (42.6%), nitroimidazoles (30.7%), cephalosporins 3 generations (18.8%) and lincozamines (16.8%). The duration of therapy in was 5-7 days in 62.3%, the rest of patients took antibiotics 3-5 days. The 67.7% of respondents prescribed monotherapy. The most common combination of antibiotic drugs were ciprofloxacin and metronidazole (26%). The indications for ambulatory antibiotic prescription were tooth extraction (48.1%) and apical periodontitis (38.7%). Most of the respondents (61.3%) answered that they are familiar with the principles of rational antibiotic therapy. The 84% of respondents prescribe an antibiotic with an average therapeutic dose. The replacement of antibiotic because of inefficiency was provided in 84.5%. In the absence of an allergic history 48.1% of dentists prescribe ciprofloxacin. Thus, in the course of the study, it was found that the majority (64%) of antibiotic appointment were irrational in outpatient dental practice. The most common observation was prescribing antibiotics and their combinations without direct indications. This trend is a cause for concern and requires additional measures aimed at increasing awareness of dentists about antibiotic treatment as well as standardization of prescription.

Reasons for not seeking early dental care in patients presenting in the exodontia department at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Lahore, Pakistan.

Objective: The aim was to gain insight on patient factors and administrative shortcomings in the dental health department that prevent patients from seeking timely dental care. Study Design: Cross Sectional Survey. Setting: Punjab Dental Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan. Period: 7 January 2020 to 28 February 2020. Material & Methods: A structured close ended questionnaire was filled by information obtained from 400 patients that presented in the Exodontia OPD requiring extractions due to irreversible tooth damage. The data was collected from 244 (61%) females and 156 (39%) males. It was analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 and post stratification chi-square test was applied to see the significance of all comparative statistics. P value of <0.05 was taken as significant. Results: Out of 400 patients, 350 had not visited a dentist when the symptoms first appeared. Of these n=213 (60.86%) were females and n=137 (39.14%) were males. Majority of the patients were in the age range of 40-65 years and belonged to the low socioeconomic class n=213 (60.9%). The main causes of patients presenting now were pain and swelling. The major reasons reported for delayed visit were: “Self-medication” n=113 (24.57%),” Symptoms will resolve on their own” n=79 (17.17%),” No awareness” n=64 (13.91%),” Non serious and lazy attitude” n=39 (8.48%) and “Busy schedule” n=36 (7.83%). Conclusion: Our findings suggested that only a small proportion of people visited the dentist when the symptoms first appeared. Most of the patients ignored their symptoms to such an extent that the only possible treatment that could be offered was extraction of the concerned tooth. There was a general misconception that dental diseases are not very serious and can be resolved by over the counter medications. Thus, more dental awareness programs should be incorporated in the government health policy to increase focus on oral health.

A public health response to a newly diagnosed case of hepatitis C associated with lapse in Infection Prevention and Control practices in a dental setting in Ontario, Canada.

Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPRDHU) investigated an exposure in an Ontario operatory dental facility related to a newly diagnosed hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection caused by a virus with an uncommon hepatitis C genotype. Lapses in Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) and a second epidemiologically-linked case (with the same uncommon hepatitis C genotype) were identified, prompting a broader public health response and outbreak investigation. a) To describe the investigation of a newly diagnosed case of hepatitis C; b) to describe the broader public health response, and c) to address a paucity in the literature related to the risk of disease transmission in dental settings due to IPAC lapses. A collaborative approach with two dental practices, public health partners and regulatory bodies was used. An IPAC inspection was completed to determine and mitigate the risk of blood borne infection transmission within the facilities. Appropriate protocols were followed for the IPAC investigation and public health response. The investigation identified a risk of potential HCV transmission between two cases linked to the same dental facility. There were no other epi-linked cases of HCV identified. Challenges included a lack of adherence to IPAC standards in one of the dental settings and awareness in the dental community regarding HCV transmission, coordination with regulatory bodies and public health experts and low uptake of laboratory testing by patients. Despite the unique challenges associated with the investigation, HKPRDHU conducted a successful IPAC lapse investigation and public health response. Public health units need to maintain collaborative approaches with regulated health professionals, their regulatory bodies and public health experts.

The Evaluation of Dentists’ Awareness and Knowledge in Turkey Regarding Bisphosphonates

Aim: Bisphosphonates (BPs) are inorganic pyrophosphate analogs used for the treatment of various diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of general dental practitioners (GDP), specialist trainees (ST), and specialists (S) in Turkey toward medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) and to optimize future training programs in this field.Materials and Methods: A self-report questionnaire consisting of 7 questions about demographic data, knowledge about BPs, MRONJ and treatment modalities was prepared and send to the members of Turkish Dental Association via email. Results: A total of 209 participants were included in this survey. The mean age of the ST group was significantly lower than the mean ages of the GDP and S groups (P= 0.003, P= 0.038). GDP are less likely to think of BPs administration and radiotherapy treatment than S or ST upon observation of an exposed bone in the head-and-neck region (P=0.048, P=0.008). In comparison to the S and ST groups, the GDP group displayed less knowledge regarding the radiological and intraoral examination of patients undergoing BP therapy (P= 0.034).Conclusion: The increasing awareness of dentists about usage and side effects of BPs is important for preventing MRONJ. The GDP group displayed significantly less knowledge regarding the radiological and intraoral examinations of patients undergoing BP therapy. Greater efforts are required to increase education and knowledge of MRONJ and BPs among dental practitioners.

Basic Oral Health Knowledge and Awareness among Rural Adults

Background: It is very important to identify common oral health problems particularly in rural areas and create awareness for the same so that people can make informed choices. This study was conducted among the adult population residing in rural areas to assess their oral health knowledge and awareness. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among adult population residing in rural areas around the dental clinic. A total of 662 participants constituted the final sample size after making necessary exclusions. A self-designed close-ended questionnaire written in English and Punjabi (local language) was constructed specifically for the study. The questionnaire was split into two sections. Analysis of variance and t-test were used in statistical analysis. Results: Majority of the participants (450, 68%) were male and 42.6% (282) of participants were in the age group of 41–50 years. Only 38% (251) of participants gave a positive response when asked about the importance of good oral health. About 40.2% (264) of participants believed that dental problems get cured solely by medicines. Low knowledge scores were recorded in 38.2% (252) of participants. Mean knowledge scores of the study participants were significantly associated with education (0.016) and occupation (0.027). Conclusion: Oral health knowledge and awareness among majority of study participants were not satisfactory. Therefore, the study emphasizes an urgent need for dental awareness and education programs targeting the rural masses.

English

With increased dental awareness, there has been a growing trend in patients who are opting for teeth retention, so post-endodontic restorations play a significant role in dictating restoration longevity. However, till date restoration of root canal treated teeth is still controversial. Root canal treated teeth often suffer from extensive loss of tooth structure because of access cavity preparation, caries removal, replacement of restoration and trauma.1 Traditionally the restorative material of choice for an endodontically treated molar would be post and core followed by metal / ceramic crowns. However, studies have shown that these intra-canal posts may increase risk, of undermining the residual tooth structure, root perforation and catastrophic failures.2 With adhesive strategies, there has been a paradigm shift towards post-less restorations and utilisation of pulp chamber as an extension, thus integrating the crown and core as a single unit or monobloc. 2,3 This was the concept of the endocrown technique. 3 Bindle and Mormann first, delineated the use of porcelain adhesive endodontic crowns.4 Endocrowns are more practical, conservative, aesthetic, simple to fabricate, economical, less time consuming and allows favourable distribution of masticatory stresses. Most studies on endocrowns showed comparable or somewhat superior results to other conventional treatments for endodontically treated teeth (ETT). However, the available literature is based largely on the use of ceramic endocrowns. 2-4 It was observed that data pertaining to endocrown fabrication with other indirect restorative materials is still limited, and the choice is still unclear.Indirect composites show enhanced mechanical properties, creation of ideal contacts and contours, favourable wear, aesthetics and can serve as an economical alternative to ceramics.5 Hence, this paper attempts to present a case report of functional and aesthetic rehabilitation of an endodontically treated molar with an endocrown restoration utilising indirect composite (SR Adoro System).

Dental avulsion management by emergency professionals and efficacy of education

This intervention study evaluated knowledge of first responders regarding the emergency clinical protocol in cases of dental avulsions and impact of an informative campaign. A questionnaire was applied to evaluate effect of provided information on knowledge among emergency service professionals regarding the management of avulsion of teeth: before campaign (T0) and after campaign (T1). Participants were invited to attend the dental trauma awareness campaign that was carried out by the researchers. The campaign addressed main doubts and difficulties regarding emergency dental trauma care. Data were statistically analyzed (p <0.05). There was significant increasing in the knowledge of professionals regarding the possibility (from 74% to 88%) and ability (5% to 32%) of first responders perform tooth replantation; about the ideal time to perform the replantation (from 30% to 59%); about the correct handling (from 52% to 85%) and the need for cleaning (from 60% to 79%) of an avulsed tooth for replantation. It can be concluded there is a lack of knowledge of emergency service professionals about tooth avulsion management. The strong message is the importance not only of identifying the lack of knowledge of the professionals about tooth injuries, but also perform the education that can significantly improve the professional knowledge.

Cross infection control awareness of dentists of Northern India for Covid-19 pandemic

Pandemic of COVID-19 is globally on the rise. Routes of transmission include human to human contact. Dentists are at highest risk of coronavirus infection contraction and dissemination. Due to recent outbreak of this disease, definitive guidelines on this subject are not sufficient for various procedures. Awareness of protective measures for dental practices may reduce the number of new cases within the country. The aim of this study was to evaluate the awareness of cross infection control measures during stage I of pandemic of COVID-19 within dental practices of Lucknow & Barabanki district Uttar Pradesh, India. A cross sectional study based on evidence provided by Department of Periodontics, Chandra Dental College & Hospital, Safedabad, Barabanki was conducted during the stage I of spread of coronavirus amongst general dental practitioners of Lucknow & Barabanki district Uttar Pradesh, India. A questionnaire comprising of 10 questions pertinent to the cross-infection protocol for COVID-19 in a dental setting was constructed. Sample size was calculated for registered general dental practitioners of Lucknow & Barabanki district Uttar Pradesh, India. The form was communicated to 200 general dental practitioners all over Lucknow & Barabanki district Uttar Pradesh, India. Out of these, 143 (71.5%) responded. Majority participants showed adequate level of awareness (more than 66%), for protection measures against corona virus COVID-19 in a dental practice. However, few aspects need more emphasis. such as during initial patient interview, temperature evaluation, radiographic records, pre-operative rinses, nature of permissible procedures, surface disinfection, irrigation and drainage methods, to control the chain the infection transmission. Earlier awareness of COVID-19 specific protection measures to health professionals may reduce the number of new diseased cases. Strict adherence to social distancing generally and COVID-19 specific cross infection control measures in a dental setting might help in timely control of this potentially deadly disease.

Raising Awareness about Health Disparities with a Medical and Dental School Web-Based Collaboration

INTRODUCTION A collaborative web-based learning event for beginning medical and dental students was created to raise awareness about health disparities. METHODS Incoming medical and dental students completed an online assignment based upon real patient scenarios which addressed the following six topics: religion, sexual preference, socio-economic status, race, culture, and military veteran status, Students completed identical pre- and post- questionnaires approved by the West Virginia University Institutional Review Board. Questions were ranked on a 6-point Libert scale (1 = strongly disagree to 6 = strongly agree) or 5-point frequency scale (1 = never to 5= always). Data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney test, with p < 0.05 as significant RESULTS The pre- and post-questionnaires were completed by 45 dental students (94% response rate) and 118 (pre-) and 116 (post-) medical students with 98% and 97% respective response rates. Both dental and medical students had a significant increase in their awareness of health disparities. Dental students had a significant increase in their appreciation of the frequency of health disparities in state and country, while medical students had a significant increase in their agreement that learning events about diversity and inclusion should be threaded throughout the curriculum, and disparities are influenced by the quality of interpersonal health care. CONCLUSIONS Bringing attention to diverse patient populations in a web-based format as part of new student orientation is effective in introducing and enhancing medical and dental students' awareness of health disparities and under essentiality of diversity topics in.

РАЗРАБОТКА УЧЕБНО-МЕТОДИЧЕСКОЙ ПРОГРАММЫ ПО ХЕЙЛОСКОПИИ И ПАЛАТОСКОПИИ ДЛЯ СТУДЕНТОВ СТОМАТОЛОГИЧЕСКОГО ФАКУЛЬТЕТА

Currently, the study of cheiloscopy and palatoscopy among students of the faculty of dentistry is particularly popular. The purpose of this study is to popularize personal identification in dental practice. The study attempted to introduce a training module for dentists to improve the recording and interpretation of data in the field of cheiloscopy and palatoscopy. A total of 93 first-year dental residents took part in the study. An important aspect of dental identification in the educational process is the criterion of system filtering and step-by-step division at various levels of education. We have proposed a modern identification method for graphological analysis of anatomical landmarks, by which a comparison was made between the identification of the contours of the wrinkles of the lips and the palate. Statistical processing included counting with the addition of the Likert scale. Then the proportions of the exact match were compared before and after training. Thus, the development of a training program on forensic practice in dentistry not only helps to establish the identity of a person, but can also help in comparing records and identifying two identical structures in dental parameters. The data obtained in the course of the study contribute to the expansion of clinical thinking, dental awareness among students in the field of dental identity identification.

Dental Awareness and Oral Health of Pregnant Women (Literature Review)

Dental Awareness and Oral Health of Pregnant Women (Literature Review)

Orofacial manifestations of sickle cell disease: implications for dental clinicians.

Sickle cell disease is a multisystem disease associated with episodes of acute illness and progressive organ damage. It is one of the most common severe monogenic disorders worldwide and is now the fastest growing genetic disorder in the UK. Dental awareness of orofacial manifestation varies geographically due to the inheritance pattern and patient population affected by the disease. This article details the epidemiology, pathophysiology and the orofacial manifestations in light of current literature.

Dental caries experience and associated factors in adults: a cross-sectional community survey within Ethiopia

BackgroundEthiopia is a developing sub-Saharan African country with increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including oral conditions. Oral health and dental care have been given little consideration, and there is limited information relating to population oral health and use of dental services in the country. The aim of this study was to examine the burden and associated factors of dental caries experience and investigate access to dental care amongst adults within Ethiopia.MethodsThis community-based oral health survey is a baseline study for the ASSET - Health System Strengthening in sub-Saharan Africa project undertaken in the Butajira area, south-central Ethiopia. A stratified random sample of households and individuals participated in the study. The survey instruments were mainly based on the WHO Oral Health Survey Methods manual (5th ed.). Face-to-face interviews and clinical dental examinations were conducted. The data were analysed for descriptive statistics; and Poisson regression models were built to assess the association of dental caries and predictor variables in adults (≥18 years).ResultsMost of the study population (n = 626) were female (63.9%), married (71.4%) and Muslim (76.0%). Just over half (53.2%) lived in rural areas and many (44.4%) had no formal education. A majority (74.0%) reported never utilising dental care services, and the main reason was never experiencing any dental problem (71.3%). Sixty percent (n = 377) of the adults had experienced dental caries, 88.0% (n = 332) of whom had untreated carious teeth. Pain or discomfort was reported by 16.5, and 7.2% had one or more PUFA component. Most (59.9%) adults with dental caries experience reported tooth pain or discomfort during the last year. In the fully adjusted Poisson regression model, increasing age, dental care utilisation and Khat chewing had positive significant associations with dental caries experience, whilst education status was negatively associated (p < 0.05).ConclusionThis study demonstrated a high burden of dental caries and considerable consequences resulting from untreated disease in this population of adults. There was evidence of social inequity, limited utilisation of dental care and oral health awareness. This highlights the need for oral health system strengthening focusing on health promotion and expanding overall access to care.

Outlook On Oral Health: A Questionnaire Survey Of General Population

Introduction: Poor oral health and untreated oral conditions are not readily identifiable by general population and morbid oral status is widely accepted as a norm, creating a significant impact on quality of life. Oral diseases are a major public health concern due to their high prevalence and neglect. The outlook of people towards oral health and disease, therefore, has an important influence on dental health.&#x0D; Methods: A structured questionnaire was posed to general Indian population. 1008 completed responses were collected and analyzed for association amongst discreet variables using Pearson’s Chi-square test and a P-value below 0.05 was considered statistically significant.&#x0D; Results: The relationship between dental awareness and demographic variables like gender, socioeconomic background, and education are discussed. Awareness amongst rural and less educated populations is low. The children face dental neglect, people are unaware of the need for regular dental visits and systemic correlation of poor oral hygiene. Females are more aware of hygiene practices than male population.&#x0D; Conclusion: The present study found that there is an immediate need to create awareness amongst general population about the necessity to follow proper oral healthcare measures, especially amongst rural and less educated groups, parents of young children, pregnant females, and the elderly.

Assessment of degree of dental awareness in schoolchildren aged 10–15 years in Bilaspur District, Chhattisgarh: A cross-sectional study

Introduction: Oral health may be defined as a standard of health of the oral and related tissues which enables an individual to eat, speak, and socialize without active disease, discomfort, or embarrassment and which contributes to general wellbeing. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the level of oral awareness among schoolchildren aged 10–15 years in Bilaspur district, Chhattisgarh. Materials and Methods: In an epidemiological cross-sectional survey, 10–15 years old schoolchildren in Bilaspur were examined to assess the dental awareness. A survey form was prepared with help of a self-administered structured questionnaire written in Hindi. The trained dental surgeon distributed questionnaire among the children. A completely answered questionnaire was collected. The observations were reviewed and analyzed. Results: Among the total number of participants (879), 98.1% of them use toothbrush to clean their teeth, 64.7% did not use dental floss, 91.5% of participants clean their tongue, 59.7% of children use mouthwash, and 85.7% rinse their mouth after every meal. Conclusion: The result of the present study suggests that the oral hygiene habits, oral health awareness, and knowledge level among schoolchildren are poor and need to be improved.