Knowledge, Awareness, And Perceptions Regarding Nursing Bottle Caries Among Dental Students - A Survey

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The most prevalent chronic disease affecting children is dental caries, which is brought on by the interaction of bacteria, primarily Streptococcus mutans, and sugary foods on enamel. The etiology of the conditions was linked, with improper nursing practices as the main target. The terms "infant cavity," "infant caries," "baby bottle-fed cavity," "infant dental decay," "comforter caries," "nursing caries," "maxillary anterior caries," "rampant caries," and many others are interchangeable.

MATERIALS AND METHOD:  Google excel sheets were used to record the results of the survey on dental students' knowledge, awareness, and practices regarding nursing bottle caries. The statistical level of significance was set at 0.005. SPSS version 21.0 (IBM Inc., Armonk, NY, USA) was used to analyze all of the data. To represent output variables, pie charts and bar diagrams were employed. 100 second-year dental students participated in this study.

RESULT: Graph illustrating the methods used to treat dental caries in nursing bottles, with extraction accounting for 4%, fluoride application for 35%, and pulpotomy or pulpectomy for 14% of cases. It demonstrates understanding of the organisms that are most commonly responsible for nursing bottle caries, including 80 percent of streptococcus mutans, 16 percent Corynebacterium diphtheria, 1 percent Staphylococcus aureus, and 1 percent Streptococcus pyogenes.

 CONCLUSION: Within the constraints of the study, we can draw the conclusion that dental students have good understanding, awareness, and practice regarding nursing bottle caries. To raise awareness among high school, college, and university students about risk factors and complications of treatment protocols, prevention techniques may include awareness camps, social media, workshops, and seminars.