Impact of oral health education on periodontal and dental caries status of nursing students in Jodhpur city, Rajasthan, India: An interventional study

• Main Authors: Jitender Solanki, Sarika Gupta
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2016-01-01
• Series: Journal of Indian Association of Public Health Dentistry
• Subjects: Dental caries; nursing students; oral health; oral health education; periodontal status
• Online Access: http://www.jiaphd.org/article.asp?issn=2319-5932;year=2016;volume=14;issue=3;spage=262;epage=265;aulast=Solanki

Introduction: Oral health education is an integral part of dental health services and has been provided in various settings such as dental office and dental institutions, school, and other educational institutions, and workplace to improve oral health by increasing awareness and interest of the population toward their own oral health. Aim: To assess the impact of oral health education on the periodontal and dental caries status of the nursing students. Materials and Methods: A total of 1045 nursing students were selected out of them there were 502 males and 543 females. The study was conducted in two phases: first phase, oral examination and second phase, oral examination after imparting oral health education. Statistical analysis included descriptive and Chi-square analysis using SPSS. Results: It was found that both males and females were having highest community periodontal index score of 3 and 4, but after health education, the scores were statistically significant (χ2 = 789.751, P = 0.000, S), whereas the dental caries status remained same, there was an improvement in filled component of decayed-missing-filled teeth after health education, but no statistically significant results were found (χ2 = 735.497, P = 0.574, NS). Conclusion: In the present study, there was an improvement in the periodontal status after imparting oral health education. Therefore, oral health education is an integral part of maintaining dental health.