title: Dental health knowledge and attitudes of primary school teachers toward developing dental health education.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the dental health knowledge of primary school teachers, their attitudes toward the prevention of dental diseases and to identify any barriers to the implementation of oral health promotion programmes in schools.
  
  
  METHODS
  Teachers' knowledge of the causes and prevention of dental decay and gum disease, their attitudes toward oral health and barriers to the implementation of dental health education programmes were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  School teachers were generally very well informed about the causes and prevention of dental decay and gum disease. Knowledge of the appropriate management of serious dental trauma was very poor among this group although they seemed to have greater awareness of the appropriate management for less serious dental injuries. The majority of teachers demonstrated positive attitudes toward dental health and its incorporation into the school curriculum. Teachers'attitudes to their own involvement in school-based dental health education were also positive. Lack of training and resources and time within the curriculum were identified as major barriers to the implementation of a dental health education programme in primary schools.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Developing teacher training programmes that include oral health knowledge and an evidence-based approach to dental health education within a school setting could enable primary school teachers to play a significant part in oral health promotion for young children in Trinidad.
authors.affiliation: .Unit of Child Dental Health, School of Dentistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Mount Hope, Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies. vishara19@yahoo.com
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ramroop
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Naidu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006267:Health Education, Dental; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching; D014300:Trinidad and Tobago