A Gender Specific Comparative Study of Oral Self Care and Oral Health Attitude between Dental Undergraduate and Post Graduate Students

Background: Oral health constitutes an important determinant of overall health and well-being, yet oral diseases remain among the most prevalent problems in our society. Dental school students’ knowledge, beliefs and attitudes about dental health greatly determine the oral health care level of their future patients.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to compare the oral self care practices among dental undergraduate and postgraduate male and female students.

Methods: A study questionnaire consisting of 14 questions was formulated and distributed to 200 dental students for this cross sectional study, out of which 166 questionnaires were returned after completion. The students consisted of 82 postgraduate females, 12 postgraduate males, 42 undergraduate females and 30 undergraduate males. The questionnaire comprised of questions to assess the aptitude on oral health, self care practices, presence of deleterious habits and frequency of dental visit.

Result: There was no significant difference in dental health, oral self care and dental visits neither between the post graduate and undergraduate dental students nor between the male students and female dental students. However, there was a significantly higher number of smokers with relatively greater frequency and longer duration among postgraduate male dental students compared to other groups, followed by the undergraduate male dental students. Also there was a higher number of smokers in males than in female dental students.

Conclusion: The number of years in dental education does not influence the attitude and behavior among the dental students with respect to oral self care practices. However their age and gender influences their intensity of deleterious habits.