Periodontal and Caries Status in Relation to Oral Health Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavior of Medical and Dental Students in Taxila, Pakistan.

Background The importance of oral health in general well-being is widely acknowledged. It is expected that students belonging to dental and medical fields maintain a strong awareness of oral health and participate in public oral health awareness and initiatives, particularly in low-income nations such as Pakistan. Objectives The objective of the study was to assess the relation of periodontal status and dental caries status of medical and dental students in Taxila, Pakistan, with their oral health knowledge, attitude, and behavior. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted in Taxila targeting a total of 350 medical and dental students. Convenient sampling was used for the study. Data collection involved a structured questionnaire for oral health knowledge, attitudes, and behavior. The questionnaire was pilot tested, and Cronbach alpha was 0.70. Periodontal and dental caries was assessed using the Community Periodontal Index (CPI) and the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) Index, respectively. Ethical approval and informed consent were obtained, maintaining confidentiality. Descriptive statistics summarized demographic and oral health data, whereas statistical tests explored associations of periodontal and dental caries status. Results Overall, the students' mean percentage scores were 7.14 ± 1.5 on knowledge, 24.4 ± 3.5 on attitudes, and 7.53 ± 1.4 on behavior. The mean CPI score was 1.17, and the DMFT score was 1.64 ± 1.66. Notably, dental students were well aware of their oral health compared to medical students in all aspects. Analysis revealed that oral health knowledge and behavior were correspondent with good dental health, with significant results. Conclusion The medical and dental students of Taxila showed statistically significant oral health knowledge, positive attitudes, and behavior. The attitudes although alone did not significantly affect oral health status. However, enhancing oral health awareness among students requires collective efforts from health professionals.