ABSTRACT
Dental professionals are often invited by different school authorities to deliver lectures on oral health and to provide preventive services. The usual target population behind most endeavors comprises the, young school children, and it is with the aim of improving their oral health knowledge, that such programmes are held. However, the fact remains that any child's knowledge and practices are by and large a reflection of what he sees or is taught in his immediate surroundings. We wanted to assess the level of knowledge, attitudes and practices towards oral health among schoolteachers in Chengalpattu taluk, Kanchipuram district.METHODSUsing simple random sampling technique, a questionnaire study was carried out among 50 government schoolteachers and 50 private schoolteachers in Chengalpattu Taluk. The questionnaire used was a closed ended, self-administered questionnaire consisting of 30 questions pertaining to Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices towards oral healthRESULTSAbout 37.9% of government teachers and 36% of private teachers had knowledge regarding dental caries, 48% of government teachers and 34.9% of private teachers had knowledge regarding gum diseases and 26% of government teachers and 22.7% of private teachers had knowledge regarding malocclusion. Moreover 41% of government teachers and 32.1% of private teachers had knowledge regarding oral cancer. 83.9% schoolteachers were getting information regarding oral health through dentists or doctors. When enquired regarding practices, 63% of schoolteachers brushed their teeth twice daily.CONCLUSIONSKnowledge was highest among the government schoolteachers compared to private schoolteachers among Chengalpattu taluk in Kanchipuram district.