Knowledge and Awareness About Importance of Primary Dentition Among Parents and Pediatricians

Abstract

Primary teeth are the first set of teeth that erupt in the oral cavity, which will be replaced by permanent teeth. Though these primary teeth exfoliate, they are very important, as they have certain functions and roles to play till their exfoliation. Aim: To determine the knowledge and awareness about the importance of primary dentition among parents of children below 12 years and pediatricians practicing modern medicine in different hospitals and private clinics. Materials and methods: The participant’s awareness of the importance of primary dentition was evaluated based on a questionnaire. Participants were requested to mark the options which they perceived as most appropriate. In the case of parents, educational qualification, socioeconomic status, and geographic background were correlated to certain questions; similarly, for pediatricians, their area of practice and years of practice were correlated. The frequency or percentage of good awareness was calculated in both groups. The statistical significance of factors influencing good awareness of groups was calculated using Pearson’s Chi-squared test. Results and discussion: The overall knowledge of parents and pediatricians regarding the importance of primary dentition is not satisfactory. However, the majority of the participants were curious to know the correct response and acquire more knowledge about the importance of primary dentition. Conclusion: It was concluded that pediatricians should receive more knowledge on the importance of primary dentition by including these in their curriculum. The motivation of parents regarding the importance of primary teeth through dental camps or educational programs by dental professionals is highly desired.

Keywords

• parents
• pediatricians
• primary dentition
• treatment needs