Knowledge & Awareness Regarding Oral Health Care & Dental Treatment Among Pediatricians

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Oral health is considered as an integral component of overall health. Therefore, thepreventive and therapeutic oral health care should be accessible to all the children and youth, Pediatricians examine infants several times during their 1st and 2nd years of life. Parents usuallyseek Pediatricians' advice in securing their child's normal growth and development. Pediatriciansmust have proper knowledge in addition to time and inclination to educate the parents.

AIM: To determine and assess the knowledge and awareness regarding oral health care & dentaltreatment among Pediatricians.

MATERIALS & METHOD: A total of 60 pediatricians, practicing in Ahmedabad City registered underthe Indian Medical Association were selected for the study. A Google form was prepared basedupon the validated objective questionnaire, and was circulated among the pediatricians and theywere requested to fill the questionnaire.

EVALUATION: Evaluation was done based on the answers of the Google form.

RESULT: In our study it was observed that most of the pediatricians were aware of Pediatric Dentistry as a specialty but not all of them make referrals to a Pediatric Dentist. A few of the Pediatricians agreed that the dental caries is infectious disease to the child and it was observedthat a 60% of the pediatricians believed that the diet counseling to be effective in reducing caries. So that the more communication between medical and dental societies is needed to improve thestatus of infant OHC (Oral Health Care). Conclusion: Pediatricians who participated in this study had a fair knowledge regarding dentaland oral health as well as treatment needs but still there's a need to improve the Pediatrician'sknowledge and awareness about the oral health and dental treatment needs in children.