Oral Health Practitioners Research Articles

Management of oral leukoplakia: a position paper of the Society of Oral Medicine, Chinese Stomatological Association

The objective of this study was to develop the first edition of a Chinese evidence-based position paper on the management of oral leukoplakia (OLK). The consultant group for drafting the position paper consisted of 31 oral medicine specialists and 2 evidence-based medicine specialists. English studies (searched in PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library) and Chinese studies (searched in China National Knowledge Infrastructure and WanFang) published before January 2018 were used. The quality of the study was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation grid, and the strength of the recommendations was determined based on the results of 3 rounds of voting among the consultant group members using the Delphi method. Twenty-two evidence-based guidelines for clinical management and monitoring of OLK were established in this position paper. A clinical path diagram for oral health practitioners was constructed based on the recommendations. Current evidence suggests that management and monitoring of patients with OLK should be performed by experienced clinicians to control the lesion and for early detection of malignant transformation. However, all recommendations are based on evidence of low or extremely low quality and may require further modification as new evidence is produced.

Contribution of virtual reality in oral surgery: A literature review

Oral cavity care is very much associated with perceptions of pain and anxiety. Oral health practitioners have many solutions in order to reduce patients' apprehension, and an alternative non-drug technique has increased: the use of virtual reality (VR). The aim of this review is to highlight the contribution of virtual reality headsets in reducing anxiety and pre- and post- operative pain in patients having oral surgery.PubMed and Cochrane Library have been searched for scientific articles with MESH words «virtual reality », « oral surgery », « anxiety » and « pain ».8 articles were identified and 6 met the inclusion criteria. Among the 6 articles analyzed, 4 were control trials and 2 were methodological descriptions. 2 clinical trials found statistically significant results on the outcome measures of pre-operative and post-operative anxiety and pain felt.The use of VR in oral surgery seems to have an impact in reducing anxiety and pre- and post- operative pain, but more studies are needed to confirm its effectiveness.

Oral health practitioners' knowledge, attitude, and awareness about coronavirus: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND:Oral health practitioners are at the frontline of infection, particularly with respiratory viruses such as the novel coronavirus. Knowledge, awareness, and attitude of these workers are considered important in preventing and controlling the outbreak. This study aims to review the literature to provide a better understanding of the status of dentists and other oral health practitioners' knowledge, attitude, and awareness about COVID-19.METHODS:A systematic review was conducted through Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and ProQuest up to May 6, 2020. All the knowledge, attitude, and practice studies on oral health workers about respiratory contagious outbreak the same as severe acute respiratory syndrome, Middle East respiratory syndrome, and COVID-19 were included in the meta-analysis.RESULTS:A total of eleven studies were included in the meta-analysis. 85.5% of the dentists and oral health practitioners had a high level of awareness about virus transmission modes (95% confidence interval [CI]: 78.6%–92.4%; P < 0.001). 80.7% of the oral health practitioners gave right answers to the questions related to virus transmission modes (95% CI: 69.9%–91.4%; P < 0.001), and 79.9% of the dentists had a positive attitude about virus transmission modes (95% CI: 66.4%–93.4%; P < 0.001).CONCLUSION:This meta-analysis shows that the level of dentists and oral health practitioners' knowledge, awareness, and attitude was relatively high about the respiratory contagious diseases as well as COVID-19. The present results can shed further light for policymakers to support the best evidence medical education for all health-care workers the same as oral health practitioners. Preventing the dissemination of misinformation along with preparing comprehensive guidelines can be considered by the oral health policymakers, particularly in the more infected regions.

Contamination of used toothbrushes and their decontamination with disinfecting agents

AIM: To evaluate microbial contamination of toothbrushes and the efficacy of different oral disinfectant agents in their decontamination METHODS: The heads of 98 used toothbrushes derived from patients who needed oral hygiene treatment were included in the study. In the laboratory, microorganisms on toothbrush heads were identified using standard microbiological methods. Toothbrush heads with microorganisms were then randomly divided into four groups of 19 and disinfected with Brushtox, Andolex C, Listerine® and water (control), followed by microbiological analysis RESULTS: Seventy eight percent of toothbrushes were contaminated with different microorganisms. Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) were found in a high number of toothbrushes (49%), followed by Pseudomonas spp (37%), Staphylococcus aureus (32%), Streptococcus mutans (14%), coliforms (9%) and Candida albicans (3%). Decontamination of toothbrushes with Andolex C and Listerine® reduced the number of contaminated toothbrushes by 74% each, Brushtox by 90% and water by 0.0% CONCLUSION: Toothbrushes were contaminated with various types of microorganisms, but predominantly with CoNS. Although Brushtox is a toothbrush spray, soaking toothbrushes in this solution was the most effective method, reducing the number of disinfected toothbrushes by 90%. Oral health practitioners should raise awareness to their patients regarding the need to disinfect toothbrushes.

Enamel Renal Syndrome: A Case Report of Amelogenesis Imperfecta Associated with Nephrocalcinosis

Amelogenesis imperfecta (AI) occurs either in isolation or in association with other dental abnormalities and systemic disorder. A rare syndrome associating AI with nephrocalcinosis was named as Enamel Renal Syndrome (ERS; OMIM #204690). This syndrome is characterized by severe enamel hypoplasia, failed tooth eruption, intra pulpal calcifications, enlarged gingiva, and nephrocalcinosis. Nephrocalcinosis is a condition where calcium salts are deposited in renal tissue, and this may lead to critical kidney complications.This rare syndrome shows pathognomonic oral characteristics that are easily detectable at an early age, which proceeds the onset of renal involvement. Pediatric dentists are the first oral health practitioners whom ERS patients will meet at early age. The role of pediatric dentists is critically important for early diagnosis and referral of patients to both nephrologists for renal assessment and geneticists for identification of causative mutation and diagnosis. Early detection of renal involvement may provide chances to prevent further undesired renal complications.

Dental Care Management: Till We Bid Farewell to Covid-19

The sudden outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) from Wuhan, China shook the whole world Even though the overall mortality rate of the disease is 3.4% 1, 2, the exponential spread of the virus from China to other parts of the earth got the world into an abnormal global public health crisis. Despite the global effort to control the widespread of the disease, the community spread has been out of hand and declared pandemic with a public health emergency of international concern. The worst is the treatment and vaccine have not been found to date. The Health Professionals have been working day and night on the front line to fight against the virus risking their own life. The oral health professionals, on the other hand, are at the highest risk due to the aerosols produced by saliva droplets 3. The possibility of the spread of these saliva droplets by inhalation, contamination with skin or mucous membranes, lodgments on the surfaces of the dental offices, or other dental materials used during the dental appointments and/or even the hand contamination could be a big threat to dental professionals 4. They are in risk not only they get infected but also become a carrier of the virus helping in the spread of it. Thus, this article intends to provide a brief introduction, symptoms and transmission routes of this novel infection along with specific recommendations for oral health practitioners for patient screening and management protocol, and infection control strategies.

Evaluation of advocacy projects in undergraduate and graduate dental hygiene leadership courses.

The intent of this investigation was to describe learners' outcomes regarding a Legislative Advocacy Project and Health Policy Advocacy Project in required leadership courses in dental hygiene curricula. The 7-week legislative project was completed by Bachelor of Science (BS) in a traditional classroom setting and Master of Science (MS) degree dental hygiene students in an online course. The course requirement was a written paper all enrolled students completed, which comprised a significant portion of the final grade. Objectives were developed for topics presented and active learning strategies engaged students to extend learning to a higher level. Weekly activities provided a mechanism for formative assessment, and a rubric determined whether the objectives were met for the summative assessment. In 2016, the BS course was revised to include health policy, and the policy project was implemented. The majority of students earned A or B grades on the assignments. The overall mean for the BS legislative projects based on 4 years was 89.1 (n=104); the MS mean based on 12 years was 92 (n=81). The mean for the BS policy projects, based on 4 years, was 91.9 (n=111). The instructional design of both advocacy projects' objectives, active learning strategies, and summative assessment were strategically aligned and created an effective environment for learning. Oral health practitioners who are empowered to engage in advocacy initiatives are needed in the next generation. Administrators and faculty are called to action to become leaders and advocates for advocacy education in all oral healthcare programs.

Understanding oral health help-seeking among Middle Eastern refugees and asylum seekers in Australia: An exploratory study.

Andersen's behavioural model of healthcare utilization is one of the most commonly used frameworks for help-seeking across a broad range of health areas, including oral health. The Model has been used in a wide range of previous studies to explore and understand oral health service use among both general populations and ethnic minorities. However, no research has explored its utility in understanding refugees' and asylum seekers' oral health help-seeking. As such, this study aimed to improve understanding of Middle Eastern refugees' and asylum seekers' oral health help-seeking and to determine the utility of Andersen's Model in this context. Interviews were conducted with 26 participants: 20 refugees and asylum seekers, and six oral health practitioners. Results were analysed using thematic analysis. The results indicated that systemic barriers were of particular concern for refugees and asylum seekers in relation to oral healthcare access. Other components supported previous research concerning the domains of the Model, with additions in relation to acculturation and previous experiences of dental care either in home or resettlement contexts. Overall, this study highlights the need for a tailored approach to understanding oral health help-seeking for refugees and asylum seekers, who have particular dental care needs. Resettlement policies should consider system-level barriers to accessing dental services when considering access to health services more generally for refugees and asylum seekers.

Usefulness of optical fluorescence imaging in identification and triaging of oral potentially malignant disorders: A study of VELscope in the LESIONS programme.

Optical fluorescence imaging (OFI) has been shown to enhance the detection of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD), by providing additional information about the nature of these lesions, with loss of autofluorescence (LAF) signifying potential underlying oral epithelial dysplasia (OED) or malignancy. This study aims to assess the usefulness of OFI in identification and triaging of OPMDs by primary oral health practitioners, in a community setting. Participants were recruited from the LESIONS programme in South-East Queensland, Australia. Participants underwent both conventional oral examination (COE) of mucosal tissues as well as screening with OFI by trained dentists and oral health therapists (OHTs). Lesions were classified as homogeneous, non-homogeneous, lichenoid or other. The study protocol included blanching of lesions detected with VELscope® (diascopy) and a two-week review and reassessment of all lesions to reduce false-positive findings. Analysis of decisions made by dentists and OHTs about lesion identification and triaging was undertaken. A total of 360 participants underwent both COE and OFI screening and presented with at least one lesion detected with either method. Lesion size increased and border distinctness and visibility improved with OFI. Of the 170 lesions that underwent two-week reassessment, 70% resolved or were confirmed as benign. OHTs were more likely to request review and referral for OPMDs compared to dentists. Optical fluorescence imaging is a useful tool to help dentists and OHTs identify and triage patients with possible OPMD in the primary care setting.

PERIODONTAL CHART DAN PERIODONTAL RISK ASSESSMENT SEBAGAI BAHAN EVALUASI DAN EDUKASI PASIEN DENGAN PENYAKIT PERIODONTAL

The development of science and technology in the field of periodontology in digital era has experienced quite rapid development. However, this development is not comparable with community's tissue health that is fairly high. Data from RISKESDAS 2018 shows the percentage of periodontitis cases in Indonesia is 74.1%. Periodontal disease is an oral disease that ranks first in the 2001 world record book record as the most common disease in humans. The high prevalence data can be due to lack of patient’s knowledge of health or dental health practitioners who do not emphasize the importance of the health of tissue. The risk assessment of disease is still rarely done by dental health practitioners when compared with the assessment of the risk of dental caries. This article aims to introduce disease risk assessment methods and tools for dental health practitioners. Search for information on disease risk assessment methods and tools through PubMed with the keywords periodontal charting and periodontal risk assessment. The disease risk assessment tool is chosen based on open access and free of charge. Periodontal charts and Periodontal Risk Assessment (PRA) are simple applications that can be used by all dental and oral health practitioners in explaining, evaluating and motivating patients with disorders. Periodontal chart and PRA can be used as material for evaluation and education of patient's tissue for dental health practitioners.

Recognizing Poor Sleep Quality Factors During Oral Health Evaluations.

Oral health practitioners routinely perform oral health assessments for the dental patient to determine if oral disease is present. Systemic health is often a contributor to oral health concerns. One area in particular that has a direct effect on oral structures and oral health is poor sleep quality and open mouth breathing. Sleep is a fundamental process of the human body, which regulates core biological functions. Sleep quality reflects a person's ability to fall asleep, stay asleep, and enter into the various rejuvenating sleep cycles for the full duration. A person who does not obtain quality sleep can exhibit a wide range of oral, systemic, and cognitive health problems. Obstructive sleep apnea, which historically has been considered an adult male disease, is being recognized more often in women children. Research suggests various oral malformations found in newborns and young children can manifest as obstructive sleep apnea in adults. Oral health professionals are in a position to recognize the relationship between sleep and health, identify sleep quality concerns in relation to oral health assessments, administer sleep quality assessments, and determine appropriate referrals for further sleep quality evaluation.

Cross-Country Validation of the Association Between Oral Health and General Health in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

ObjectiveOral health is known to be associated with general health, but longitudinal relationships between oral health and general health indicators have not yet been fully explored in international research. Setting and participantsThe sample consisted of 3 longitudinal databases: a sample from Belgium from the Protocol 3 project (n = 8359), a combined sample from 6 European countries (n = 2501) from the IBenC study (Belgium, Finland, Iceland, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands), and a sample from New Zealand (n = 15,012). All clients were 65 years or older and received long-term home care services. MethodsBayesian models were used to analyze the associations between 3 oral health indicators (chewing difficulty, nonintact teeth, and dry mouth) and 4 aspects of general health (activities of daily living functioning, cognition, depression, and health instability). In addition, the models explored the associations between current oral health and general health status and future oral health and general health status. ResultsClients who had poorer oral health had a higher risk of suffering from poor general health. Especially chewing difficulty was associated with all general health indicators in all data sets (odds ratios > 1). Dry mouth and nonintact teeth showed significant associations with almost all general health indicators. Additionally, having poor oral health (respectively general health) was predictive of poor general health (respectively oral health) at future assessments (significant cross-lagged parameters). Conclusions/ImplicationsThe results point out the need of the inclusion of oral health assessment and advice from dentists or oral health practitioners into the multidisciplinary conversation. In addition, identifying older people with oral health problems is essential in order to provide treatment and monitoring. Raising awareness for oral health is important, and policy makers should foster oral health promotion and care for older adults in order to keep them in good health.

Valid consent and orthodontic treatment

Abstract Valid patient consent is a legal and ethical principle that is fundamental to healthcare provision. Oral health practitioners (OHPs) must understand the principles that need to be addressed to ensure that the consent given by a patient is valid. Failure to obtain consent may result in a negligence claim or a complaint of professional misconduct against the OHP. Orthodontic treatment is mostly elective but is not without risk to the patient. Obtaining and maintaining valid consent for orthodontic treatment presents additional challenges in comparison with other dental procedures as the treatment lasts over a longer time and is most commonly performed in adolescents. In addition, prospective patients need to be informed regarding ‘lifelong’ management in the retention phase to minimise the risk of relapse. The present paper outlines the principles of valid consent with particular regard to orthodontic treatment in the adolescent patient. OHPs must ensure that they are satisfied that the competent patient has the capacity to voluntarily consent. Clinicians must also recognise that valid consent is not a one-off ‘tick the box’ procedural exercise but an ongoing process of effective information sharing in light of changing laws and an ever-changing scientific evidence base within a patient-centred model of healthcare.

Relation between Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Hepatitis B among Dental Undergraduates in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Dental healthcare professionals are at a considerable risk of infectious diseases such as hepatitis B (HB). The study aims to present the details on the current knowledge, attitude, and practice of dental students towards HB in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was designed targeting fifth academic year and 6th academic year dental students as well as dental interns. Knowledge, attitude, and practice of HB were checked using a self-reported questionnaire. Wherein, 11 questions were about knowledge, 6 about attitude, and the final 6 were on practice. Chi-square analysis was followed by Spearman's correlation to report on the relation between knowledge, attitude, and practice. SPSS version 24 was used for analyzing the data. The response rate was 87% of which, 41% were females, and 59% were males. It was seen that 61.3% of the respondents had good knowledge, 55% indicated a positive attitude, and 77% of them demonstrated safe practices. We also observed that the students or interns with good grade point average (GPA) had the strongest correlation (r = 0.70; p < 0.001) with their knowledge on HB. Knowledge was also significantly correlated with the attitude (r = 0.373, p < 0.001 and safe practices (r = 0.11, p = 0.004) of HB among the students and the interns. Findings from the current research conclude that having good knowledge on HB accounts for a positive attitude and safe practices among undergraduate dental students. Potential oral health practitioners at dental schools should have a thorough knowledge of infectious diseases such as HB so that they implement safe practices from an early stage. The medical and dental curriculum should be reformed to include specific learning outcomes in every clinical course on stringent and effective ways to implement infection control practices.

Implementing an Oral Health Intervention for People Experiencing Homelessness in Scotland: A Participant Observation Study.

Smile4life is an intervention aimed at improving the oral health of people experiencing homelessness in Scotland. The purpose of this research was to determine how this intervention was being translated from guidance into action. Data concerning Smile4life working practices were collected in three NHS Boards using participant observation. Fieldnotes taken during these observations were analysed using content analysis. This analysis revealed that there were working alliances between the oral health practitioner, the Third Sector staff, and the homeless service users, and that these alliances were affected by various barriers and enablers. The observation sessions also highlighted variations in working practices.

Exposure to Adverse Childhood Experiences and Oral Health Measures in Adulthood: Findings from the 2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are negative life events occurring before the age of 18 y. ACEs are risk factors for heart disease and diabetes in adult life. Furthermore, individuals who experience ACEs are more likely to smoke and become obese-factors associated with poor oral health. This study investigated likely associations between ACEs and the oral health measures of the 2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Data from 16,354 participants of the 2010 BRFSS were analyzed with SAS 9.4. ACE scores were calculated in 2 domains: abuse (emotional, physical, or sexual) and household challenges (parental separation or divorce, intimate partner violence, household substance abuse, household mental illness, and incarceration). ACE scores, ranging from 0 to 8, were categorized into 0, 1, 2, 3, and ≥4. The 2010 BRFSS oral health measures included >1 y since last dental visit, ≥6 teeth extracted, and ≥2 y since last dental cleaning. Survey logistic regression estimated prevalence odds ratios and 95% CIs, adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and educational attainment. The weighted mean ACE score was 1.74 (95% CI = 1.68 to 1.81), and the weighted and age-standardized percentages of study participants with ACE scores of 0, 1, 2, 3, and ≥4 were 33.1%, 24.3%, 14.9%, 9.69%, and 18.1%, respectively. There appeared to be a dose-response association between categories of ACE scores and the oral health measures. Specifically, when compared with participants with an ACE score of 0, participants with ACE scores of 1, 2, 3, and ≥4 had adjusted prevalence odds ratios (95% CIs) of 1.10 (0.82 to 1.47), 1.20 (0.90 to 1.60), 1.35 (0.98 to 1.85), and 1.72 (1.31 to 2.26), respectively, for reporting ≥2 y since last dental cleaning. Findings suggest that ACEs may be associated with poor oral health measures in adulthood, even after adjusting for important oral diseases risk factors. Longitudinal follow-up studies are needed to delineate pathways by which this relationship occurs. Our findings indicate that exposure to childhood trauma may have negative impacts on oral health in adulthood. Oral health practitioners need to be aware of the potential impacts of childhood trauma on health behaviors that ultimately affect oral health outcomes.

Cigarettes, E-cigarettes, and Adolescents' Oral Health: Findings from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study.

Adolescents are a population group that actively uses tobacco products; however, limited reports are available on the effects of tobacco products on adolescents' oral health. This study investigated associations between self-reported use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes on the oral health status of a representative sample of US adolescents. Data came from 13,650 adolescents aged 12 to 17 y who participated in the 2013-2014 wave of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health study. Participants self-reported current use (i.e., past 30 d) and ever use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes, as well as past-year diagnoses with dental problems by a doctor, dentist, or other health professional (self-reported by parent or emancipated youth). Survey-adjusted logistic regression was used to estimate prevalence odds ratios (PORs) and 95% CIs. The proportion of adolescents who self-reported current use of only cigarettes was 3.2%, while 1.7% reported current use of only e-cigarettes. Similarly, 1.4% reported current use of both cigarettes and e-cigarettes, while 7.1% reported ever use of both. About 22% self-reported a provider diagnosis with dental problems in the past year. The covariate-adjusted associations between current cigarette and e-cigarette use on self-reported provider-diagnosed dental problems in the past year were, respectively, POR = 1.50 (95% CI, 1.18 to 1.90) and POR = 1.11 (95% CI, 0.79 to 1.55), while self-reported current use of both was associated with POR = 1.72 (95% CI, 1.24 to 2.38). Ever use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes was likewise associated with increased prevalence odds of self-reported past-year diagnosis with dental problems, although to a lesser magnitude. Findings suggest that dual use of e-cigarettes and conventional cigarettes is associated with poor oral health outcomes among adolescents. However, studies of a longitudinal nature are needed to confirm these findings. The results of this study are relevant to public health and oral health practitioners seeking to intervene during developmental periods in which adolescents may have access to tobacco products in the home and in social settings.

Integrated approach to oral health in aged care facilities using oral health practitioners and teledentistry in rural Queensland.

Residents of residential aged care facilities are at very high risk of developing complex oral diseases and dental problems. Key barriers exist in delivering oral health services to residential aged care facilities, particularly in regional and rural areas. A quality improvement study incorporating pre- and post chart audits and pre- and post consultation with key stakeholders, including staff and residents, expert opinion on cost estimates and field notes were used. One regional and three rural residential aged care facilities situated in a non-metropolitan hospital and health service in Queensland. Number of appointments avoided at an oral health facility Feedback on program experience by staff and residents Compliance with oral health care plan implementation Observations of costs involved to deliver new service. The model developed incorporated a visit by an oral health therapist for screening, education, simple intervention and referral for a teledentistry session if required. Results showed an improvement in implementation of oral health care plans and a minimisation of need for residents to attend an oral health care facility. Potential financial and social cost savings for residents and the facilities were also noted. Screening via the oral health therapist and teledentistry appointment minimises the need for a visit to an oral health facility and subsequent disruption to residents in residential aged care facilities.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior toward Evidence-based Dentistry among Dental Professionals in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India

Rendering quality care to the patient, dentists needs to update their skills and knowledge with latest diagnostics and treatment modalities. Evidence-based dentistry can provide best-known treatments. To assess knowledge, attitude, and practice of oral healthcare professionals toward evidence-based dentistry among dental professionals. A cross-sectional study was conducted for a period of 3 months from April 2017 to June 2017 in Jodhpur city, Rajasthan, India. The data were collected by using closed-ended questionnaires. A total of 240 study subjects participated in the survey, which include dental practitioners and dentists attached to the two private dental colleges in the Jodhpur. Chi-square test was used to determine significant difference among the three groups. Statistically significant difference among the three groups (academicians, practitioners, and academicians into dental practice) was found with regard to awareness of dentists about extracting journals, review publications, and databases relevant in carrying out evidence-based practice (EBP); 72.4% of academician felt lack of personal time was one of the major perceived barriers and about 50.7% of academician believe that learning skills of evidence-based dentistry helps them to utilize evidence-based dentistry in daily practice. Majority of the oral health practitioners were not aware about the concept of evidence-based dentistry. The regulatory body of dental sciences in India should make some necessary changes in the dental curriculum to include the concept of evidence-based dentistry in detail. To improve the clinical expertise of the dental professional, to aid dental professional to reach best decision regarding dental treatment of the patient, to improve patient safety, and to improve the success rate of dental treatments, evidence-based dentistry should be the integral part of everyday dental practice.

Knowledge, attitude, and practice of professional indemnity insurance among dental practitioners in Maharashtra State, India

Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices among Indian dental practitioners regarding the professional indemnity insurance (PII) and to assess the perceived need among these practitioners regarding such insurance cover based on their demographic and professional characteristics. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in March 2015. A total of 610 dental practitioners were selected as the study population. List of registered dental practitioners was obtained from state dental councils and a few dental practitioners were selected randomly. These practitioners were then interviewed in person and also the questionnaire was put up on web for distant online interviews. The widely used questionnaire by “GLOBAL CHILD DENTAL FUND” for PII was obtained from its website (www.gcdfund.org) and was modified according to the results of a pilot study. Results: It was seen that knowledge and awareness among senior practitioners were higher and so were perceived need. More than 50% of the study population was not aware of dental indemnity insurance and did not know about the procedure to apply for it. Twenty percent of dentists felt that it was not mandatory for each and every dentist, whereas 9.5% felt that there was no need dental indemnity insurance. Conclusion: Most of the oral health practitioners do not have dental indemnity insurance. Hence, there is a need of spreading knowledge and awareness to dental practitioners about the uses and benefit of dental indemnity insurance. Provision of PII for dental practitioners is a welcome step on the part of insurance companies. Surely, it gives a sigh of relief to dental practitioners and establishments against the growing menace of compensation claims from patients.