Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice with Regard to Periodontal Health Assessment and Plaque Control Measures among Dental Graduates in Mumbai, India-A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Effective mechanical and chemical plaque control remain the cornerstone of successful periodontal treatment and can be accomplished with the general awareness of the oral hygiene aids. Aim &Objectives: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice among graduate dentists in dental clinics with regard to periodontal health assessment and plaque control practices in patients. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional multi-centre, close-ended questionnaire -based survey collected data by convenience sampling from 400 graduate dentists with minimum of 5 years of dental practice in Mumbai, India. 392 responses met the inclusion criteria and were included in the study. A well-structured 20-item questionnaire was prepared and validated. The questionnaire included questions pertaining to assessment of knowledge, attitude and oral hygiene practices among dentists with respect to periodontal health assessment and plaque control in dental clinics in Mumbai. Results: Our questionnaire-based survey revealed that there was general consensus among the dentists about plaque control measures like tooth-brushing/interdental cleansing aids and recall visits for patients. However there were diversity and ambiguity in responses among dentists about periodontal assessment by perio charting, the use of mouthwashes, brushing techniques, gum paints and periodontal maintenance in implant patients. Conclusion: There was positive attitude and awareness among dentists in this survey about the assessment of periodontal health, plaque control measures and patient education in dental practice. However, instilling the knowledge of the correct oral hygiene practices is the need of the hour and needs to be implemented at the undergraduate level. The results of this present study re-enforces the belief that the knowledge and attitude of the general dentists towards oral hygiene practices are of paramount importance and ultimately translate into optimum patient care. Online Journal of Dentistry & Oral Health Volume 3-Issue 3 Citation: Gulnar Dara Sethna. Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice with Regard to Periodontal Health Assessment and Plaque Control Measures among Dental Graduates in Mumbai, India-A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study. On J Dent & Oral Health. 3(3): 2020. OJDOH.MS.ID.000562. DOI: 10.33552/OJDOH.2020.03.000562. Page 2 of 6 Introduction India is the second most populous country after China equivalent to 17.7% of the total world population and is soon projected to become the most populous country in the world with nearly 1.5 billion population. The prevalence of periodontal diseases ranges from 50 to 100 % in various parts of the Indian subcontinent [1]. In developing countries due to the high prevalence, they have serious socio-economic repercussions and adversely affect the quality of life [2]. Dental plaque or biofilm and plays a pivotal role in the initiation and progression of periodontal and peri-implant diseases as shown by several epidemiological surveys. Hence disruption of the biofilm to prevent periodontal disease remains the gold standard for their primary treatment [3]. Periodontal diseases can be prevented by effective mechanical and chemical plaque control and begins with the correct periodontal assessment, proper tooth brushing and flossing techniques, periodic dental recall visits and appropriate dietary practices [4]. The dentists play an integral role in patient education and creating awareness about preventive measures for periodontal disease and for achieving good oral health. However, limited literature is available regarding the same. Therefore, this survey was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of graduate dentists practicing in private clinics in Mumbai. Materials and Methods The study was designed as a descriptive cross-sectional survey which was conducted between December 2017 to August 2018. A well-structured, closeended questionnaire comprising of 20 questions was prepared through multiple phases including experts review of the questions. A pilot study was conducted among 50 graduate dental practitioners in Mumbai by simple random sampling through the lottery method. The questionnaire was validated by testing it for its construct, content and face validity by the experts. Test re-test reliability was checked on ten samples and the reliability was found to be good (0.8) The sample size was calculated on the basis of the formula as mentioned below: