A Cross-sectional Study of Undergraduate Dental Student’s Oral Health Awareness at a Dental College and Hospital in Siliguri, West Bengal, India

Abstract Introduction: Dental students usually acquire knowledge about oral hygiene practices when they enter the clinical years of the dental course. They are supposed to impart this knowledge to the public and patients in the future. Aim: The aim is to examine the student’s perception of oral health knowledge, attitude, and behavior between their preclinical and clinical years. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional epidemiological survey was conducted among 292 undergraduate dental students and interns at a dental college and hospital, in West Bengal, India. A self-administered, closed-ended questionnaire based on the English version of (Hiroshima University-Dental Behavior Inventory [HU-DBI]) was adopted with 20 questions in a dichotomous response format. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and Chi-square test with P ≤ 0.05. Results: The mean HU-DBI score of clinical dental students (3 rd year, final year, and intern) was significantly higher as compared to preclinical dental students (1 st year and 2 nd year), while there was no significant difference among the genders. Conclusion: The knowledge about oral care among dental students in general was good, except in certain areas where there were some shortfalls. This study showed that, with an increase in the level of education, there was an improvement in the oral health awareness of dental students. Oral health awareness programs should be conducted from the beginning of the dental curriculum so that students can get proper knowledge about the maintenance of oral health. The medical and nursing students should also be made aware of oral health maintenance through such programs.