Evaluating General Dental Practitioners’ Knowledge about Appropriate Timing of Orthodontic Treatments in North of Iran

Introduction: Orthodontics is defined as a branch of dentistry that deals with the correction of malocclusion. In this regard, determining the most appropriate time for orthodontic treatment is of utmost importance. General dental practitioners (GDPs) are normally the first link of the treatment chain of patients needing orthodontic treatments. The present study aimed to determine the GDPs’ knowledge of appropriate timing of orthodontic treatments in Sari, Iran.  Material and methods: This descriptive, analytical and cross-sectional study was performed on GDPs working in Sari in ۲۰۱۹. The statistical population included ۳۸۰ GDPs, ۱۸۶ of whom were selected. Data were collected using a ۲۴-item questionnaire is applied to evaluate the GDPs’ knowledge level of the appropriate timing of orthodontic treatments. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version ۱۹. Results: In total, ۱۴۲ out of ۱۸۶ GDPs participated in the study with a mean age of ۳۶.۱۲±۱۰.۱۵ years. ۸۶ subjects (۵۹.۹%) had less than ۱۰ years of work experience. Total mean (±SD) knowledge level of the GDPs was estimated at a moderate level (۱۴.۱۳±۳.۷۹). Percentage of the knowledge levels of poor, moderate and good was ۱۲, ۷۰, and ۱۸, respectively. There was significant relationship between knowledge level and gender (P=۰.۰۱۳). Meanwhile, no association was observed between the work experience of the participants and their level of knowledge (P=۰.۳۹۳). Conclusion: According to the results of the present study, the total mean score of GDPs’ knowledge of appropriate timing of orthodontic treatments in Sari was moderate, and only ۱۲% of the participants had poor knowledge level in this regard. It is notable that male subjects had a significantly higher knowledge level, and another analysis demonstrated the lack of effectiveness of work experience on the knowledge level of individuals. 

کلیدواژه ها:

General Dentist ، Knowledge ، Orthodontics