Awareness Of Orthodontic Problems Among Paediatricians - A KAP Survey In Dravidian Population

Background: Paediatricians are the first specialists to encounter infants and children. They are responsible for a child's overall health which is also inclusive of oral health. There's evidence that children are more likely to visit a medical office than a dental one, so it would be of substantial help if they are able to diagnose orofacial deformities early and refer patients accordingly to intercept the developing deformity. Aim: The aim of this survey was to study the awareness of orthodontic problems among practising paediatricians in South India. Objective: The objective of the survey was to assess whether paediatricians have sufficient knowledge of basic orthodontic principles, whether they examine their patients for orthodontic problems and also ascertain their referral pattern to dentists. Materials and Methodology: This questionnaire-based study was aimed at paediatricians in Chennai. It consisted of openended and closed-ended questions. The participants were provided with a questionnaire formulated with a set of 10 multiple choice-based questions. Questions covered routine oral cavity check-up and educational curriculum involving orthodontic principles. Data was gathered from electronic questionnaires. Descriptive statistics were performed to analyze the data. Chisquare test was done to evaluate associations between gender and referral to general practitioners. Result: Chi-square test reported that there was no statistical significant association between gender and their referral to general practitioners (p value-2.57, p>0.05). Conclusion: There is a need to create awareness among paediatricians about orthodontic problems.