Evaluation of Knowledge Level of General Dentists in Karaj City about Proper Timing of Orthodontics

Introduction: Knowing the correct timing of orthodontic treatment is essential, especially for general dentists, who are the first link in the patient's treatment chain. To achieve desired results and save patient’s time and money, treatment must be done at the right time. The aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge of general dentists in Karaj about the appropriate time for orthodontics in 1399. Methods and materials: In this cross-sectional descriptive analytic study, the required information was collected through random distribution of an online questionnaire consisting of 24 questions from 384 general dentists. The questions were divided into four deciduous dental periods, primary dentition, early mixed dentition, late mixed dentition and permanent dentition. The scores of the obtained information were analyzed by sex, age, university of study, duration of graduation, place of employment and number of participants in retraining courses with Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney statistical tests using SPSS 24 statistical software to analyze. Results: Average score of dentists knowledge was 14.23 (Out of 24 points). Also, the knowledge of male dentists is 14.64 higher than that of women 13.7. Dentists in the age group of 40 to 50 years with an average (15.67), Public sector employees with average (16), Graduates of Type I State University with an average of (14.79), Graduation period between ten and twenty years with an average of (15.86), And participants in retraining courses more than twice with an average of (14.59) more than other categories which had a significant difference. Conclusion: The level of knowledge of general dentists was assessed as moderate and it is necessary to improve their level of knowledge.