title: A survey about awareness of periodontal health among the students of professional colleges in Dakshina Kannada District.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oral health is an important factor in maintaining sound psychological and physical health. Association between knowledge and better oral health has been well documented.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the oral health awareness and knowledge about periodontal diseases among the students of medical, Ayurveda, and Engineering Colleges.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey was conducted among the students of medical, Ayurveda, and engineering colleges. Three hundred students were selected using a simple random sampling method and a self-constructed 15 items questionnaire was distributed to all subjects. Chi-square test was applied to individual questions and Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare overall oral health awareness and knowledge about periodontal diseases among the students.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A substantial lack of oral hygiene understanding and limited knowledge of oral hygiene practices even in health professionals and engineering students.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hence, there is an urgent need for comprehensive educational programs to promote good oral health and impart education about the correct oral hygiene practices at an elementary level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, KVG Dental College and Hospital, Sullia, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Mundoor Manjunath
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Dayakar
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, KVG Dental College and Hospital, Sullia, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Jitendra
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, KVG Dental College and Hospital, Sullia, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Gurpur Prakash
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Pai
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, KVG Dental College and Hospital, Sullia, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Hiranya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shivananda
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, KVG Dental College and Hospital, Sullia, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Ramapatali
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rekha
keywords: Periodontal diseases knowledge; periodontal health understanding; students