Original Article

Year : 2019 | Volume : 4 | Issue : 1 | Page : 22-25

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of School Teachers toward Dental Caries and Prevention in Tirupati City, Andhra Pradesh

K. Veerakishore Kumar Reddy, R. Venketsubramaniyan, Harshini Togaru, Srinivasan Krishna, K. Naveen Krishna, Lakshmi Prasanna

Department of Pedodontics, CKS Teja Institute of Dental Sciences, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India

Address for correspondence:

Dr. K. Veerakishore Kumar Reddy,

Department of Pedodontics, CKS Teja Institute of Dental Sciences, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India.

E‐mail: kasaveerakishore@gmail.com

Abstract

Background:

The most significant period of a child’s life is spent at school, and it is here that their lifetime beliefs and habits develop. Aschool-based program is most effective because children are approached at a time when their health habits are forming. Teachers are considered as role models to transmit values of life. To instill, healthy preventive oral habits, the teachers themselves need to have a good knowledge and attitude toward oral health.

Aim:

The aim of this study was undertaken with the objective of assessing the knowledge, attitude, and practices of school teachers toward dental caries and prevention.

Materials and Methods:

This was a cross-sectional survey conducted among school teachers in Tirupati city. A pretested structured questionnaire related to dental caries and its preventive measures were used, and 100 teachers were assessed on their knowledge on oral health, attitude, and practices regarding their personal oral health, attitude regarding dental caries in children, and status of oral health education (OHE) at the schools.

Results:

Around 55% of the participants felt that bacteria and sugars are the main causes of dental caries. Around 57% of the teachers brushed twice daily. However, only 58% of the participants felt it is necessary to visit the dentist regularly. While 86% of the teachers expressed the need for OHE programs at the school level, only 43% agreed that it is their duty to impart OHE to the students.

Conclusion:

The knowledge and attitude of school teachers about dental caries and its current preventive methods seem to be incomplete. As a pedodontist, there is a need to educate the teachers regarding oral healthcare in children and to update their knowledge by conducting OHE programs within a school setting, and further studies should be done to assess their awareness levels and make the necessary changes in further education modules.

Keywords: Attitude, dental caries, knowledge, school teachers

Financial support and sponsorship

This study was self-funded.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

How to cite this article: Reddy KV, Venketsubramaniyan R, Togaru H, Krishna S, Krishna KN, Prasanna L. Knowledge, attitude, and practices of school teachers toward dental caries and prevention in Tirupati City, Andhra Pradesh. Int J Pedod Rehabil 2019;4:22-5.