A comparative evaluation of oral hygiene practices, oral health status, and behavior between graduate and post-graduate dentists of North India: An epidemiological survey.
OBJECTIVE
The present study was carried out to compare oral hygiene practices, oral health status and behavior of graduate and postgraduate dentists of North India.


METHODS
The study was carried out among 727 dentists (446 graduate i.e., Group A and 281 post graduate i.e., Group B) through an online questionnaire. The questionnaire covered oral hygiene regimen, adverse oral habits, information regarding dental visits and dental treatment.


RESULTS
Results showed less than adequate oral hygiene practices among both the groups with more so in the graduate group (P ≤ 0.05). Very few dentists in both the groups reported any adverse oral habit. A more positive (P ≤ 0.05) attitude towards regular dental check up and dental treatment was seen in post-graduate dentists when compared to graduates.


CONCLUSIONS
Very few dentists in both the groups followed ideal dental hygiene regimen. Dentists are the role models for the society as far as oral health is concerned; hence they need to be more responsible and lay more stress on their daily regimen and improve the scenario.
Department of Prosthodontics, Uttaranchal Dental and Medical Research Institute, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India.
Maan Surinder
MS
Singh
Department of Prosthodontics, Uttaranchal Dental and Medical Research Institute, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India.
Aaswin Kaur
AK
Tuli
Dentists; graduate; oral habits; oral hygiene; post-graduate