Year : 2019

Volume : Volume 10

Issue : Issue 1s

Address for correspondence :
Dr. Pratik Surana.
suranadrpratik@gmail.com

Abstract

Background:  To assess personal dental visit experience and knowledge about oral health awareness and to evaluate the need for awareness programs about oral health. Material and Method: A cross sectional survey was conducted to assess personal dental visit experience and knowledge about oral health awareness amongst various students including undergraduates of medical, dental and Ayurvedic  institutions situated in Durg, Chhattisgarh, India, from June 2018 to July 2018 after obtaining ethical clearance for the study from Institutional ethical committee and dean of the respected institutions. A total of 450 participants, out of which 150 Medical, 150 Dental and 150 Ayurvedic undergraduate students were selected for this study. A pre-tested 10 item questionnaire was distributed among all the students. The questionnaires were then collected immediately after the completion following which the results were statistically analyzed. Result:  Based on the individual questions in the questionnaire, the results were interpreted. It was observed that 72.7% students of dentistry, 34.0% of Ayurvedic and 44.0% Medical students visited the dentist and only (7.33%) Dental and (1.51%) Medical students visited at an early age whereas none of Ayurvedic student visited to dentist at early age, i.e. 0 to 5 year. Conclusion: Thus, from present study, it was evident that the awareness regarding the importance of the first dental visit is very low in the study population.

Keywords: First dental visit, Oral health awareness, Health care profession.