title: Knowledge, Attitude and Practice among Dental Practitioners Pertaining to Preventive Measures in Paediatric Patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prevention at primary level is of great value in Paediatric Dentistry. Since use of preventive measures can prevent future complications, dental professionals share an important responsibility toward early screening, prompt referral and treatment and this knowledge must transfer into the practice of dentistry.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) among dental practitioners in Bhopal city (central part of India) pertaining to sealants, topical fluorides usage and orthodontic consideration in paediatric patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted using a 20-item self-administered, closed ended, structured questionnaire. A total of 200 available private dental practitioners of Bhopal city made up the sampling frame of study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 200 practicing dentists, 147 participated with response rate of 73.5% in which 69.4% were males and 30.6% were females. A total of 83% dentists were less than 35 years of age, while 17% were equal to or more than 35 years of age. Qualification distribution revealed 67.3% dental graduate and 32.6% dental specialist. A highly significant difference in knowledge in relation to age was observed. The mean±SD were found for Knowledge as 8.46±1.82, Attitude as 2.65±0.780, and Practice as 1.66±1.57. Statistically significant correlations were found between attitude and practice (r=0.58, p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dentists in Bhopal city have vast knowledge towards preventive dentistry. The attitude is highly commendable but underutilized in practice, which needs to be improved.
authors.affiliation: Professor and Head, Department of Paedodontics, STES Sinhgad Dental College and Hospital , Vadgoan, Pune, Maharashtra, India .
authors.forename: Raju Umaji
authors.initials: RU
authors.lastname: Patil
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Student, Department of Paedodontics, Rishiraj College of Dental Sciences , Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India .
authors.forename: Amitkumar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sahu
authors.affiliation: Professor and Head, Department of Paedodontics, Rishiraj College of Dental Sciences , Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India .
authors.forename: Halaswamy V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Kambalimath
authors.affiliation: Reader, Department of Paedodontics, College of Dental Sciences , Davangere, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Bharath Kashetty
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Panchakshari
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Peoples Dental Academy , Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India .
authors.forename: Manish
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jain
keywords: Children; Oral health; Prevention; Sealants; Topical fluoride