Oral health knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors among dental students in a Palestinian dental school: a cross-sectional study using the HU-DBI

Dental students at the AAUP generally demonstrated positive oral health awareness. Female gender and clinical training were associated with significantly better preventive behaviors and higher overall HU-DBI scores, while regression analysis revealed that clinical exposure also contributed to more positive attitudes. These findings underscore the value of reinforcing preventive dentistry concepts and practical oral hygiene training early in the preclinical years to support consistent self-care and a smooth transition to clinical practice.