Knowledge of primary care professionals about fluoride topics

Abstract

Background: Scientific evidence on the benefits of fluoride was responsible for an important change in dental practice. Individual and collective actions have been planned to impact the epidemiology of oral health. However, questions around this topic persist, making discussions and researches still necessary. In this regard, the aim of this study was to verify the fluoride-related knowledge of pediatricians (PP) and dentists (DS) working in primary care, comparing related aspects such as its multiple sources of intake and dental fluorosis.

Methods: A group of PP and DS answered as self-administered questionnaire related to fluoride knowledge. PP group presented a lower level of adherence (34%) in comparison to the DS group (70%).

Results: Fluoride-related topics were learnt at undergraduate courses by 95,95% of dentists and 38.46% of pediatricians. Ninety-two per cent of DS and 78.57% of PP claimed to know the clinical aspects of dental fluorosis. Pediatricians tend to indicate the use of fluoridated dentifrices at any age but advise less about the right amount to be placed on the toothbrush in comparison to DS.

Conclusions: Dentists and pediatricians presented limited fluoride-related knowledge. Continued education/training is encouraged and necessary at this level in order to deliver the benefits of fluoride use to populations.