What preventive strategies do dentists prescribe for dental caries prevention? – A KAP survey

Abstract

Background: Dentists play an important role in caries prevention by delivering preventive care,
educating patients, and buying related products; it is critical to recognize what they know and believe
about caries prevention, as well as how they use caries prevention interventions.
Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross‑sectional study was conducted in South India between
January 2021 and February 2021 to determine the dentists’ knowledge, attitude, and practice of
prescribing preventive strategies and remineralizing agents for caries prevention. A questionnaire
including 11 self‑administered, prestructured questions was made and distributed through electronic
media. Chi‑square test was done. The test significance value was taken as 0.05.
Results: A total of 252 dental practitioners participated in the study. The majority of general
dentists and specialists followed all the measures such as pit and fissure sealants, fluoride
application, counseling patients about oral hygiene maintenance, and regular recall after 6 months to
1 year (P > 0.05). Fluoridated remineralization strategy was found to be the most prescribed (69%)
strategy for caries prevention. A significant number of dentists think fluoridated mineralization
strategies will remain prevalent (P < 0.05). Younger dentists find practicing preventive dentistry
more feasible compared to dentists with greater years of experience (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Dentists across the country are well aware, have sufficient knowledge, and prescribe
preventive strategies such as fluoride application, pit and fissure sealants, regular oral health checkups,
and counsel the patients about the importance of oral health but there is a lack of implementation
of these preventive strategies in everyday practice.
Key Words: Oral health, pit and fissure sealants, preventive dentistry, remineralization formulations, toothpaste