Togoo Rafi Ahmed, Al-Rafee Mohammed A, Kandyala Reena, Luqam Master, Al-Bulowey Mohammed A
Department of Pedodontics, Formerly Advisor Preventive Dentistry and Children Dental Health, Directorate of Dental Services, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia.
J Contemp Dent Pract. 2012 May 1;13(3):261-5. doi: 10.5005/jp-journals-10024-1134.
The aim of this study was to determine the dentists' opinions on causes for high prevalence of dental caries in the country and to assess their level of knowledge about preventive dental care.
A questionnaire based national crosssectional survey among 500 dentists was conducted under the auspices of Directorate of Dentistry, Ministry of Health. The data was analyzed using SPSS software version 11.0 and descriptive statistics were obtained.
The response rate was 87.8% (n = 439). 83% of dentists identified poor oral hygiene as the major reason for high prevalence of caries, only 39% of patients reportedly brushed teeth at least once a day, oral prophylaxis (83%) is the most common preventive practice followed, social factors (62.5%) are the most challenging barriers in preventive dental programs, 71.3% always give chair side dental health education, school based programs (66.6%) are most effective tools for dental health education.
Majority of dentists in Saudi Arabia are adequately informed and motivated toward preventive dental care but they are in need of further support from policy makers to enhance preventive dental programs in the Kingdom.
Oral hygiene should be improved in the country by reaching out to the entire community through extensive and continued education programs.
本研究旨在确定牙医对该国龋齿高患病率原因的看法，并评估他们对预防性牙科护理的知识水平。
在卫生部牙科总局的支持下，对500名牙医进行了一项基于问卷的全国性横断面调查。使用SPSS软件11.0版对数据进行分析，并获得描述性统计结果。
回复率为87.8%（n = 439）。83%的牙医认为口腔卫生差是龋齿高患病率的主要原因，据报道只有39%的患者每天至少刷牙一次，口腔预防（83%）是最常见的预防措施，社会因素（62.5%）是预防性牙科项目中最具挑战性的障碍，71.3%的牙医总是在椅旁进行口腔健康教育，基于学校的项目（66.6%）是口腔健康教育最有效的工具。
沙特阿拉伯的大多数牙医对预防性牙科护理有充分的了解并有积极性，但他们需要政策制定者提供进一步支持，以加强该国的预防性牙科项目。
应通过广泛和持续的教育项目覆盖整个社区，以改善该国的口腔卫生。
