Inside the Mouths of Caregivers: Evaluating Oral Health Status of Iranian Female Dental Nurses-A Pilot Study Findings.

Abstract

Background: Poor oral health is also a notable cause of pain and discomfort and is usually a pointer to general health. Dental nurses play a significant role in improving the oral health of the community. This study presents the assessment and evaluation of the oral health status of Iranian dental nurses based on the oral health questionnaire (OHQ) developed by the WHO. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional survey studied 50 informally trained dental nurses. Subjects were recruited through a census sampling technique from two dental clinic centers affiliated with Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran, between August and October 2023. Oral health status and oral health behavior were measured using the WHO OHQ for dental nurses. Results: The mean age of participants was 35.52 ± 7.86 years. All respondents reported brushing their teeth and 48 (96%) used toothpaste. Similarly, 95% of participants reported having a total of 20 or more teeth. Of the sample, 44% had visited the dentist in past 6 months. Singles had significantly better oral health behavior scores than married subjects and also showed fewer signs of oral and dental health problems. The mean scores of oral problems did not differ significantly by age, systemic diseases, work experience, workplace, or household family income. Conclusion: Generally, the majority of Iranian dental nurses in the study assessed their oral health status as good, while their scores concerning oral health behaviors were very poor. Emphasizing the importance of academic educational courses for dental nurses is crucial in promoting oral health behavior. This study demonstrated that merely having easy access to dental services is not a sufficient replacement for formally institutionalized training in dental nurses.