DOI: 10.7126/cumudj.1827303 ISSN: 1302-5805

Evaluation of the Effect of Having a Dental Intern on Family Members’ Knowledge of Oral Hygiene and Fluoride: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Esra Hato, Bilge İmrendi Yergin, Merve Erkmen Almaz, Volkan Arıkan
Show PDF Cite
Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of having a dentist on the family-on-family members' knowledge of oral hygiene and fluoride. Materials and Methods: A self-administered questionnaire based on a previously published survey was used to conduct a cross-sectional observational study. The survey form was uploaded online via Google Forms. A total of 232 participants took part in our study by completing the survey. Participants were divided into two groups: Group I: Family members of dentist’s interns and Group II: Family members of pediatric patients presenting to the pediatric dentistry clinic for routine checkups. IBM SPSS 25 software was used for all analyses. Descriptive statistics (number, percentage, mean, standard deviation, minimum, and maximum) were provided in this study. Results: Group I had a higher level of education. Participants were observed to brush their teeth twice daily for an average of 2 minutes. No differences were found between the groups in terms of brushing duration, timing, toothbrush type, or fluoride paste use (p>0.05). Regarding toothbrush replacement frequency, those reporting changing their toothbrush every 1-3 months were more likely to be in Group I, while those reporting changing their toothbrush every 3-6 months were more likely to be in Group II (p=0.039). Conclusions: Having a dental intern in the family generally resulted in positive changes in oral hygiene habits and fluoride intake compared to the other group. Easy access to information and access to information from reliable sources, such as those trained in oral hygiene, may have contributed to this result.

More from our Archive