Keywords
oral health awareness
oral health knowledge
oral health practice
Abstract
Introduction: Better knowledge and awareness of oral health practices are linked to good habits with healthier oral cavity. Awareness of periodontal health among dental students reflects their understanding of preventive dental care.
Objective: The present study aimed to assess the oral health awareness across the academic levels of undergraduate dental students and internees.
Methods: It was a descriptive cross-sectional, observational study on dental students of each academic year and internees of People's Dental College and Hospital, Nepal. The survey was done using census method from 2018 September to 2019 February using a self-administered structured questionnaire written in English. The results were compared between the subgroups of each academic year and internees.
Results: A total of 281 students (248 students from first year to fourth year BDS and 33 internees) participated in the study. Most of the students responded positively on periodontal disease causing mouth odour. Most of the first-year students did not know mobile teeth (35, 71.42%) and periodontal pockets (39, 79.83%) as signs of periodontal disease. Regarding the use of dental floss, 47 (95.91%) of first-year students do not use dental floss, and only 22 (66.67%) internees use dental floss. The majority of students know that smoking and diabetes as risk factors for oral diseases. The tongue-cleaning habit was seen almost the same in all groups of students. The first-year students (36, 73.46%) to fourth-year second phase students (65, 97.02%) and 33 (100%) internees have understood the importance of maintenance therapy.
Conclusions: The oral health awareness increased according to the academic growth among dental students and internees based on their behaviour and attitude.
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