The Awareness and Knowledge of Secondary School Teachers on Malocclusion and Orthodontic Treatment in Southwest Nigeria.

Abstract

Background: The role of secondary school teachers in conveying knowledge on the causes and treatment of malocclusion cannot be overemphasized, however, there is still paucity of reports on this subject. This present study assessed the awareness and knowledge of secondary school teachers on malocclusion and orthodontic treatment, focusing on the factors that might influence their awareness and knowledge.
Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 120 randomly selected secondary school teachers in Ile-Ife central local government, using a pre-structured self-administered questionnaire.
Results: Over 70% of the respondents had never heard the word malocclusion, while only 5% were aware of associated causes of malocclusion. About one-third of the respondents, had an idea of the average cost of orthodontic treatment and the presence of  orthodontic clinics in the local government area respectively. Teachers in private schools and those below 30 years of age showed a significantly higher level of awareness on malocclusion and knowledge of orthodontic treatment than those in public schools and above 30 years of age (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Generally, the awareness and knowledge level of secondary school teachers on malocclusion and orthodontic
treatment in Ile-Ife central local government area is low. The teachers' age and the type of school in which they teach, were found to have significant effects on their awareness and knowledge level of orthodontics.