Table 1 Percentage (frequency) of physicians’ (n = 106) correct responses to knowledge questions
Group A (n = 38) | Group B (n = 32) | Group C (n = 36) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pre | Post | Diff | Pre | Post | Diff | Pre | Post | Diff | |
Paediatric domain | |||||||||
The bacteria that causes dental decay usually transmit from mother to the child | 16 (6) | 84 (32) | 68 (26) | 22 (7) | 31 (10) | 9 (3) | 33 (12) | 42 (15) | 33 (12) |
Toothpastes which contain fluoride should not be used for children under 3 years old | 18 (7) | 53 (20) | 35 (13) | 22 (7) | 13 (4) | -9 (−3) | 17 (6) | 17 (6) | 17 (6) |
Teeth cleaning and brushing should be started from 2- to 3- years old, when deciduous dentition is completed | 21 (8) | 55 (21) | 34 (13) | 38 (12) | 47 (15) | 9 (3) | 36 (13) | 25 (9) | 36 (13) |
Pacifier sucking in under-4-year-old children is a risk factor for dento-alveolar malformation | 3 (1) | 42 (16) | 39 (18) | 6 (2) | 9 (3) | 3 (1) | 14 (5) | 17 (6) | 14 (5) |
Using fluoride varnish on under-5-year-olds teeth causes fluorosis and poisoning | 26 (10) | 66 (25) | 40 (15) | 31 (10) | 34 (11) | 3 (1) | 33 (12) | 33 (12) | 33 (12) |
Sealants are effective in the prevention of pit and fissure caries in newly erupted molars | 61 (23) | 92 (35) | 31 (12) | 59 (19) | 72 (23) | 13 (4) | 64 (23) | 64 (23) | 64 (23) |
Dental domain | |||||||||
Why fluoride is added to toothpaste | 90 (34) | 100 (38) | 10 (4) | 88 (28) | 91 (29) | 3 (1) | 100 (36) | 100 (36) | 100 (36) |
The first signs of decay are white spots or lines on teeth surfaces | 47 (18) | 97 (37) | 50 (19) | 47 (15) | 63 (20) | 16 (5) | 44 (16) | 39 (14) | 44 (16) |
The frequency of sugar consumption has a greater role in producing caries than does the total amount of sugar consumed | 97 (37) | 97 (37) | 0 (0) | 88 (28) | 81 (26) | -7 (−2) | 94 (34) | 86 (31) | 94 (34) |
Using fluoride toothpaste is more important than the brushing technique for preventing caries | 0 (0) | 63 (24) | 63 (24) | 3 (1) | 13 (4) | 10 (3) | 17 (6) | 17 (6) | 17 (6) |
The best time to refer a pregnant woman for emergency dental procedure is in second semester | 71 (27) | 87 (33) | 16 (6) | 56 (18) | 66 (21) | 10 (3) | 75 (27) | 78 (28) | 75 (27) |
The main cause of periodontal diseases is dental plaque | 82 (31) | 100 (38) | 18 (7) | 72 (23) | 84 (27) | 12 (4) | 86 (31) | 89 (32) | 86 (31) |
Medical domain | |||||||||
Periodontal diseases can cause LBW | 61 (23) | 90 (34) | 29 (11) | 75 (24) | 78 (25) | 3 (1) | 64 (23) | 75 (27) | 64 (23) |
Periodontal diseases can cause problems in diabetes control | 63 (24) | 97 (37) | 34 (13) | 75 (24) | 75 (24) | 0 (0) | 75 (27) | 78 (28) | 75 (27) |
Periodontal diseases can cause cardiovascular disease | 79 (30) | 90 (34) | 11 (4) | 94 (30) | 92 (29) | −2 (−1) | 92 (33) | 92 (33) | 92 (33) |
Antidepressants increase the risk of dental caries | 47 (18) | 87 (33) | 40 (15) | 53 (17) | 59 (19) | 6 (2) | 58 (21) | 67 (24) | 58 (21) |
Analgesics increase the risk of dental caries | 29 (11) | 68 (26) | 39 (15) | 25 (8) | 44 (14) | 19 (6) | 47 (17) | 50 (18) | 47 (17) |
Antihypertensive drugs increase the risk of dental caries | 13 (5) | 71 (27) | 58 (22) | 28 (9) | 34 (11) | 6 (2) | 28 (10) | 31 (11) | 28 (10) |