Download PDF
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Eur J Dent 2021; 15(01): 145-151
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1716583
Original Article

Investigating the Level of Knowledge of the Community about Oral and Dental Health

Sinem Birant 
1   Department of Pedodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
,
Mine Koruyucu
2   Department of Pedodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
,
Hazal Ozcan
2   Department of Pedodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
,
Ceren Ilisulu
3   Pediatric Dentist, Private Practice, Istanbul, Turkey
,
Yelda Kasimoglu
2   Department of Pedodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
,
Nilufer Ustun
4   Department of Pedodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
,
Simin Kocaaydin
2   Department of Pedodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
,
Dilara Bektas
3   Pediatric Dentist, Private Practice, Istanbul, Turkey
,
Gulsevim Usta
3   Pediatric Dentist, Private Practice, Istanbul, Turkey
,
Cansu Akay Tekin
3   Pediatric Dentist, Private Practice, Istanbul, Turkey
,
Nural Bekiroglu
5   Department of Biostatistics, Medical School, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
,
Figen Seymen
2   Department of Pedodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
› Author Affiliations
› Further Information
   Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Objectives This study aimed to determine the knowledge and approaches of the participants about oral and dental health.

Materials and Methods This was a questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey. Participants’ demographic characteristics, tooth brushing habits, selection of toothpaste, and reasons for visiting the dentist were examined in this study. Participants’ knowledge levels of fluoride and their attitudes toward the most common fluoride applications among preventive treatments were also evaluated. Data entry and analyses were performed using SPSS statistical software. Descriptive and inferential statistics and chi-square test were used for analyzes.

Results A total of 2,744 voluntary participants including 1,938 (70.6%) females and 806 (29.4%) males responded; 1,391 (50.7%) participants know the contents of their toothpaste; 1,680 (61.2%) participants point out that fluoride is effective in preventing dental caries. Female participants reported a statistically significant difference in their knowledge of what is fluoride when compared with male participants (p = 0.0001). The knowledge level of participants who had higher levels of education were statistically significantly different when compared with the participants who had lower education levels about fluoride and fluoride applications (p = 0.0001).

Conclusions The results of this study indicate that participants’ attitudes toward oral health and dental care need to be improved.

Keywords

dental health - behavior - parents - fluoride - education - oral health


Publication History

Article published online:
15 September 2020

© 2020. European Journal of Dentistry. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
A-12, 2nd Floor, Sector 2, Noida-201301 UP, India

 

  • References

  • 1 Hamissi J, Bakianian Vaziri P, Davalloo A. Evaluating oral hygiene knowledge and attitude of pregnant women. Iran J Public Health 2010; 39 (01) 28-31
    Google Scholar
  • 2 Petersen PE. Sociobehavioural risk factors in dental caries - international perspectives. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2005; 33 (04) 274-279
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Saldūnaitė K, Bendoraitienė EA, Slabšinskienė E, Vasiliauskienė I, Andruškevičienė V, Zūbienė J. The role of parental education and socioeconomic status in dental caries prevention among Lithuanian children. Medicina (Kaunas) 2014; 50 (03) 156-161
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Das UM, Beena JP, Azher U. Oral health status of 6- and 12-year-old school going children in Bangalore city: an epidemiological study. J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent 2009; 27 (01) 6-8
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Prasanth M. Antimicrobial efficacy of different toothpastes and mouthrinses: an in vitro study. Dent Res J (Isfahan) 2011; 8 (02) 85-94
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Sadeghi M, Assar S. An in vitro antimicrobial activity of ten Iranian-made toothpastes. Dent Res J (Isfahan) 2009; 6 (02) 87-92
    Google Scholar
  • 7 Longbottom C, Ekstrand K, Zero D. Traditional preventive treatment options. Monogr Oral Sci 2009; 21: 149-155
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Nakonieczna-Rudnicka M, Bachanek T, Strycharz-Dudziak M, Kobyłecka E. Oral hygiene habits among tobacco-smoking and non-smoking students of the Medical University of Lublin–chosen aspects [in Polish]. Przegl Lek 2010; 67 (10) 871-874
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Bruno-Ambrosius K, Swanholm G, Twetman S. Eating habits, smoking and toothbrushing in relation to dental caries: a 3-year study in Swedish female teenagers. Int J Paediatr Dent 2005; 15 (03) 190-196
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Fine DH, Furgang D, Markowitz K. Sreenivasan PK, Klimpel K, De Vizio W. The antimicrobial effect of a triclosan/copolymer dentifrice on oral microorganisms in vivo. J Am Dent Assoc 2006; 137 (10) 1406-1413
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Ozaki F, Pannuti CM, Imbronito AV. et al. Efficacy of a herbal toothpaste on patients with established gingivitis–a randomized controlled trial. Braz Oral Res 2006; 20 (02) 172-177
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Al-Omiri MK, Al-Wahadni AM, Saeed KN. Oral health attitudes, knowledge, and behavior among school children in North Jordan. J Dent Educ 2006; 70 (02) 179-187
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Sheiham A, Bonecker M. Promoting Children’s Oral Health: Theory and Practice. 2006: 191
    Google Scholar
  • 14 Vanagas G, Milasauskiene Z, Grabauskas V, Mickeviciene A. Associations between parental skills and their attitudes toward importance to develop good oral hygiene skills in their children. Medicina (Kaunas) 2009; 45 (09) 718-723
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Kulak-Ozkan Y, Kazazoğlu E, Arikan A. Oral hygiene habits, denture cleanliness, presence of yeasts and stomatitis in elderly people. J Oral Rehabil 2002; 29 (03) 300-304
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Suresh BS, Ravishankar TL, Chaitra TR, Mohapatra AK, Gupta V. Mother’s knowledge about pre-school child’s oral health. J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent 2010; 28 (04) 282-287
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Jürgensen N, Petersen PE. Oral health and the impact of socio-behavioural factors in a cross sectional survey of 12-year old school children in Laos. BMC Oral Health 2009; 9: 29
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Gussy MG, Waters EB, Riggs EM, Lo SK, Kilpatrick NM. Parental knowledge, beliefs and behaviours for oral health of toddlers residing in rural Victoria. Aust Dent J 2008; 53 (01) 52-60
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Lin HC, Wong MC, Wang ZJ, Lo EC. Oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Chinese adults. J Dent Res 2001; 80 (05) 1466-1470
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Rajab LD, Petersen PE, Bakaeen G, Hamdan MA. Oral health behaviour of schoolchildren and parents in Jordan. Int J Paediatr Dent 2002; 12 (03) 168-176
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Ayele FA, Taye BW, Ayele TA. Gelaye KA. Predictors of dental caries among children 7-14 years old in Northwest Ethiopia: a community based cross-sectional study. BMC Oral Health 2013; 13-7
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Hamasha AA, Warren JJ, Levy SM, Broffitt B, Kanellis MJ. Oral health behaviors of children in low and high socioeconomic status families. Pediatr Dent 2006; 28 (04) 310-315
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Esa R, Razak IA, Jallaudin RL, Jaafar N. A survey on oral hygiene practices among Malaysian adults. Clin Prev Dent 1992; 14 (01) 23-27
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 Ronis DL, Lang WP, Farghaly MM, Passow E. Tooth brushing, flossing, and preventive dental visits by Detroit-area residents in relation to demographic and socioeconomic factors. J Public Health Dent 1993; 53 (03) 138-145
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Ota J, Yamamoto T, Ando Y, Aida J, Hirata Y, Arai S. Dental health behavior of parents of children using non-fluoride toothpaste: A cross-sectional study. BMC Oral Health 2013; 13: 74
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 26 Baradaran Nakhjavani Y. Mothers knowledge about fluoride therapy and fissure sealants. J Oral Health Oral Epidemiol 2013; 2: 1-5
    Google Scholar
  • 27 Mafeni JO, Messer LB. Parental knowledge and attitudes towards pit and fissure sealants. Aust Dent J 1994; 39 (03) 172-180
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 28 Tahani B, Yadegarfar G, Ahmadi A. Knowledge, attitude, and practice of parents of 7-12-year-old children regarding fissure sealant therapy and professional fluoride therapy. J Educ Health Promot 2017; 6: 106
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 29 Blumer S, Ratson T, Peretz B, Dagon N. Parents’ attitude towards the use of fluorides and fissure sealants and its effect on their children’s oral health. J Clin Pediatr Dent 2018; 42 (01) 6-10
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 30 Jagan P, Fareed N, Battur H, Khanagar S, Manohar B. Conceptual knowledge of oral health among school teachers in South India, India. Eur J Dent 2018; 12 (01) 43-48
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 31 Mohammadi TM, Malekmohammadi M, Hajizamani HR, Mahani SA. Oral health literacy and its determinants among adults in Southeast Iran. Eur J Dent 2018; 12 (03) 439-442
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 32 Mårtensson C, Söderfeldt B, Andersson P, Halling A, Renvert S. Factors behind change in knowledge after a mass media campaign targeting periodontitis. Int J Dent Hyg 2006; 4 (01) 8-14
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 33 Gholami M, Pakdaman A, Montazeri A, Jafari A, Virtanen JI. Assessment of periodontal knowledge following a mass media oral health promotion campaign: a population-based study. BMC Oral Health 2014; 14: 31
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar