title: Pediatricians' views about oral health care.
abstract: Pediatricians and family practitioners have the responsibility of providing the crucial primary care for the children. They are considered to be in a unique position to contribute to the dental health of their young patients. In view of this a study was conducted in Mangalore city (India) to assess pediatricians' views about oral health care and their advice regarding oral hygiene maintenance. Fifty pediatricians were personally interviewed with a questionnaire. All pediatricians acknowledged their role in oral hygiene maintenance of their patients. This study showed that there is a need for more communication between the two pediatric specialties of medicine and dentistry so as to deliver better child health care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Yenepoya Dental College Hospital, Nithyananda Nagar P.O., Deralakatte, Mangalore. bhatsham@indiatimes.com
authors.forename: Sham S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Bhat
authors.forename: Sharan S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Sargod
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kiran Kumar
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000193:education*; D010377:Pediatric Dentistry; D010372:Pediatrics