Assessment of Oral Hygiene Status and Attitude of Dental Students Towards Periodontal Care: An Introspective Mirror

Authors

  • Kratee Sharma Department of Periodontics, Kothiwal Dental College and Research Centre,Moradabad
  • Krishna K Chaubey Professor and Head, Department of Periodontics, Kothiwal Dental College and Research Centre, Moradabad
  • Rajesh K Thakur Professor, Department of Periodontics, Kothiwal Dental College and Research Centre, Moradabad
  • Swati Agarwal Senior Lecturer, Department of Periodontics, Kothiwal Dental College and Research Centre, Moradabad
  • Mukund Agarwal Department of Periodontics, Kothiwal Dental College and Research Centre, Moradabad
  • Disha Gupta Department of Periodontics, Kothiwal Dental College and Research Centre, Moradabad

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3329/bjdre.v5i2.24715

Keywords:

Attitude, dental students, oral hygiene status, periodontal care, questionnaire

Abstract

Dental students represent the educated, urbanized, influential and motivated class of individuals. If motivated for oral health, they can transfer the same knowledge and behavior patterns to patients during their practices. With this intention, this study was planned. 200 dental students were assessed by a close-ended, four-item questionnaire. Oral hygiene was assessed by Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI, Greene and Vermilion, 1964) and gingival condition by Gingival Index (GI, Loe & Silness, 1963). A positive change in attitude was observed from first to final year students. 100% of them used tooth brush and paste, but 88%, 88% 96%, 92% in first, second, third and fourth year cleaned their tongue; whereas 70%, 92%, 94%, 92% of them, respectively, were in favor of scientific method of brushing. 92%, 90%, 96%, 100%, respectively, felt visiting the dentist during gingival bleeding. Also, there was statistically significant improvement in GI between first and final year (p=0.00005), between second and final year (p=0.0003) students. OHI showed a consistent improvement from first to final year (p<0.05).  A positive change in attitude with reduction in GI and OHI status was observed with the increase in professional years.

Key message: The attitude towards periodontal care is quite unsubstantial and oral hygiene status, gingival condition among first and second year dental students is poor as compared to third year and final year students. So, there is need to bring about a change in the attitude and improvement in oral hygiene status and gingival condition of dental students from their initial years of learning.

Bangladesh Journal of Dental Research and Education Vol.5(2) 2015: 44-48

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Author Biography

Kratee Sharma, Department of Periodontics, Kothiwal Dental College and Research Centre,Moradabad



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Published

2015-08-27

How to Cite

Sharma, K., Chaubey, K. K., Thakur, R. K., Agarwal, S., Agarwal, M., & Gupta, D. (2015). Assessment of Oral Hygiene Status and Attitude of Dental Students Towards Periodontal Care: An Introspective Mirror. Bangladesh Journal of Dental Research &Amp; Education, 5(2), 44–48. https://doi.org/10.3329/bjdre.v5i2.24715

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Original Articles