Awareness and Knowledge of Orthodontics as a Specialty of Dentistry Amongst Students of the University of Ghana Medical School

Abstract

Background: Awareness of Malocclusion and its effects on the individual is important for the medical practitioner, as the primary care giver, to assist him to refer clients appropriately to the Orthodontist and to enable him to practice the philosophy of Total Health Care. The aim of this study was to investigate the awareness of malocclusion and its effects amongst University of Ghana Medical Students.
Methods: A total of 130 students participated in this cross-sectional study using self-administered questionnaires. The data was captured and analyzed using SPSS software version 17. Frequency distribution was generated for all variables and measures of central tendency obtained for all numerical values.
Results: The age range was 20- 34 years with majority (73%) in the 20-24 yr age group. Slightly more than half (58.9%) were clinical medical students and half of them (50.9%) had never visited a dentist.The main source of information on oral health was from Lectures (27%) followed by television /radio (25%) and dentists (19%).Regarding the treatment procedures carried out by an orthodontist, majority (72.5%), answered correctly that rearrangement of teeth was involved but almost half of the respondents incorrectly selected the procedures of fillings (35.7 %) , extractions (36.6%) and scaling and polishing (25.9%) as being carried out by orthodontists. With regard to appliances used by Orthodontists, majority (73.2%) correctly selected braces but (42.0%) incorrectly selected dentures and only 39.3% correctly selected removable appliances. Majority of respondents correctly selected appearance (84.8%) and self- esteem (82.1%) as being affected by malocclusion and only slightly more than half (52.7%) correctly identified quality of life as being affected.
Conclusion: The medical students in this study did not have adequate knowledge of orthodontics and dentistry as a whole and would therefore benefit from increased introductory lectures that specifically address dental specialties including Orthodontics.