Department of periodontology, School of Dental Sciences, Karad
Krishna Institute Of Medical Sciences, Deemed University, karad, District-Satara, Maharashtra
*Address For Correspondance: Dr. Girish Suragimath Professor & Head Of Department, Department of periodontology, School of Dental Sciences, karad. Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences Deemed university, karad. District-Satara, Maharashtra
Online published on 16 February, 2016.
Oral health knowledge brings a positive attitude towards oral health care, thereby improving oral hygiene practices ultimately leading to a better oral hygiene status among the general population, Lack of adequate literature on dental health awareness, attitude, oral health-related habits and behavior among Indian population creates a need to conduct a study to assess oral health awareness, attitude and oral hygiene practices.
To assess the oral health knowledge, attitude and practices among patients of Western Maharashtra.
Hundred and twelve subjects reporting School of Dental Sciences, Karad were considered for the study. A structured questionnaire, eliciting information about knowledge, attitude and oral hygiene practices was obtained from all the patients. Questionnaire was prepared in English and was translated to local language i.e. Marathi for easy understanding for the participants. The data obtained was statistically tabulated with the help of SPSS software.
Oral health knowledge of the study participants was good and females in 46–55 years of age group had significantly more knowledge as compared to males. The oral health attitude of the study participants was negative towards dental treatment and this was similar in both males and females. Oral hygiene practices in the study group was poor in both males and females. Most of the subjects in the study population used mishri (burnt tobacco) as a dentifrice for cleaning their teeth.
In study participants the knowledge about the oral hygiene practices was good. Despite of having knowledge the study participants were not performing daily oral hygiene practices properly. This same result was highlighted by Nusrath et al. The attitude towards dental treatment is negative amongst the study participants, these results are in accordance with study conducted by Oswal KC et al, in Indian population.
Oral health knowledge in Western Maharashtra population is adequate, still most of them are not practicing daily oral hygiene properly. The attitude towards dental treatment is negative in study population. Mishri is used as a dentifrice by most of the subjects.
oral hygiene, oral health knowledge, oral health practices
