Knowledge and Attitude of Undergraduate Students and Interns about Human Tooth Bank: A Cross-sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION

Human tooth banks (HTBs) are philanthropic institutions that assist to alleviate academic pressure by supplying human teeth essential for preclinical laboratory activities and experimental research. The primary focus of this research was to assess the knowledge and attitude of undergraduate students and interns who have taken up dentistry as their field of study in Jazan University, Saudi Arabia, about HTB.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An online structured self-explanatory questionnaire containing 16 questions was sent email to the undergraduate students and interns. The Google e-forms questionnaire contained a consent attached for participating in this cross-sectional observational study.

RESULTS

A good response rate of 93.3% was recorded, but the results were surprising as 66.43% of the participants did not have the slightest idea regarding the concept of a tooth bank, while only a meager 17.4% of them supported the idea of getting the teeth preauthorized from HTBs before using it on patients. A majority (80.36%) of students unanimously promoted the idea of having facilities like HTBs, but only 15.36% of students had stored teeth at a teeth bank previously.

CONCLUSION

There is an overwhelming lack of awareness among students regarding HTBs and the legal procedures involved in procuring teeth from them. It is necessary to do all that's required to create awareness about the perks of linking HTB with various dental institutions and the legal process involved to use human teeth.

HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE

Vishwanathaiah S, Eshaq RH, Maganur PC, Knowledge and Attitude of Undergraduate Students and Interns about Human Tooth Bank: A Cross-sectional Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2022;15(1):60-64.