Assessment of Knowledge on Animal Dentition amongst Dental Students in Kerala, India

Abstract Introduction: This study assessed the knowledge of animal dentition amongst undergraduate dental students in Kerala, India. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted amongst 472 dental students across 26 dental colleges in Kerala. The participants included 3 rd year, final year Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) students and interns. Results: Results revealed that 54.7% of students demonstrated good knowledge, while 39.0% showed fair knowledge and 6.3% exhibited poor knowledge. Significant variations in knowledge levels were observed based on gender, year of study and geographic location. Conclusion: The study shows a substantial gap in knowledge, emphasising the need for curriculum reforms to better integrate animal dentistry into dental education. Furthermore, attitudes towards the inclusion of animal dentistry in the BDS curriculum were mixed, with a significant portion of students recognising its importance, while others remained skeptical.