Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
European journal of paediatric dentistry, cilt.22, sa.3, ss.199-203, 2021 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Aim Oral and dental heath are important aspects of general health
and impact the quality of life and well-being. In this study, we aimed
to assess the level of knowledge and attitudes towards oral and
dental health and to examine the relative effect of social-behavioural
risk factors on caries and other teeth problems among seventh and
eighth grade students.
Methods Study Design: The study population consisted of all
seventh and eighth graders who started the 2011 school year in Sarigol
village of the Manisa city, Turkey (n = 377). Data were gathered by
questionnaires which were carried out before tooth examination.
Associations between sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge
items, attitudinal factors and number of dental caries, dental fillings
and teeth loss were studied.
Results Oral health was worse among females (p=0.002).
As the number of children under care increased in the house, the
number of dental filling and teeth loss increased in the students (p=
0.001 and p=0.021). Education of mothers of students who had
worse dental health was significantly lower compared to the others
(p=0.029). Among students who had four and more dental caries
and dental fillings, frequency of dentist visit was lower (p= 0.034
and p= 0.005). Among students who had more dental caries, the
knowledge that consumption of acidic beverages is not good for oral
health was less prevalent (p=0.011). Statistics: Associations between
sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge items, attitudinal factors
and number of dental caries, dental fillings and teeth loss were studied
using chi-square test.
Conclusions Health authorities should strengthen the
implementation of oral disease prevention and oral health promotion
programs rather than traditional curative care. Community-oriented
education programs for students and their families are crucial for
this purpose