Dentist’s preference of mode of teaching brushing technique for children with primary dentition

Abstract

Introduction: Caries and gum disorders such as gingivitis are prevalent among children and can result in tooth loss or accumulation of plaque that can later become calcified forming-a calculus, that can result in a wide variety of problems. Brushing of teeth is an integral part in the maintenance of oral hygiene and dentists play a crucial role in educating children in their early age about the techniques of brushing to avoid plaque formation and reduce caries. Aim: To evaluate the most commonly taught brushing technique by dental students in pediatric patients with primary denti-tion. Materials and Method: A retrospective study was conducted among the outpatient population in Saveetha Dental College, Chennai between July, 2019 and September, 2019. The data of the mode of teaching brushing techniques was collected using 150456 case sheet records of pediatric patients visiting the Department of Pediatric Dentistry. Patients of 2-6 years were selected for the study. The data that was obtained was tabulated in an excel spreadsheet and the analysis of the data was made using SPSS software with a chi-square test for association. Results and Discussion: Gender distribution was male (52.17%) and female (47.83%) respectively. Most common mode of teaching brushing technique was the digital method (66.67%) followed by model method (21.74%). Comparison based on gender and age against the mode of teaching did not show any statistical significance (p>0.05). Conclusion: Within the limitations of the present study, the digital method was the most commonly taught method for teaching the brushing technique by dental students.