Dental and Dental Hygiene Students’ Knowledge and Perception on Fluoride Use in Dentistry

Aim The 75th anniversary of community water fluoridation in the United States was celebrated 2020. However, there are studies that stimulate polarized discussion over use fluoride dentistry. purpose this study to evaluate dental and hygiene students' knowledge perception Materials methods A survey conducted gauge participant's their opinion on need for developing viable alternatives fluoride. An Institutional Review Board (IRB# 5190496) application filed approved. hard copy distributed all student classes at Loma Linda University School Dentistry (U.S.) between January 13, 2020, February 5, Descriptive data were compiled analyzed. Knowledge-based questions compared using Kruskal-Wallis procedure correct percentage among different classes. Perception analyzed a Likert scale also Chi-squared test. All tests two-sided with α 0.05. Results Out 482 students, 282 students responded (58.5%). mean responses ranged from 49 69%. There statistically significant difference Overall dentistry positive, it changed exposure lectures years. Conclusion correlation dentistry, indicating importance adequate delivery didactic teaching students. Clinical significance oral healthcare provider plays pivotal role communicating pertinent information benefits preventing caries general public, prompting topic education.