Knowledge and Perception of Medical Students about Orthodontic Appliance

Abstract

Background: A study on knowledge and perception of medical students on orthodontic appliance can influence the decision of the medical student to seek orthodontic treatment, to ascertain if there is a difference in the knowledge and perception of orthodontic appliance between preclinical and clinical medical student and to assess if the medical student have sufficient knowledge to effect adequate referral.

Methods: This study was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among preclinical and clinical medical students in the School of Medicine, College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin city with a sample size of four hundred and four (404). Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire.

Results: The highest proportion of respondents in this study 195(48.3%) were within the age range of 15-20 years. Males constituted the higher proportion of respondents 239(59.2%).

A total of 127(31.4%) had heard of malocclusion before. One hundred and fifty-two (37.6%) know that it can be treated. One hundred and eight (26.7%) know the specialty that manage malocclusion. One hundred and fifteen (28.5%) know that the orthodontist manages malocclusion. Eighty-one respondents (20.0%) opined fixed appliance(braces) was used for the treatment of malocclusion 14(3.5%) opined surgery as the treatment of malocclusion and 7 (1.7%) opined fixed and removable appliance as the treatment for malocclusion.158 preclinical students compared to 108 clinical students had the perception that will recommend it and this relationship was statistically significant p<0.001

Conclusion: The medical students had some form of knowledge about orthodontic appliances and malocclusion including managing specialty, their knowledge was not sufficient enough to adequately refer patients.