Original Article
VOLUME: 40 | ISSUE: 2 | Jun 25, 2024 | PAGE: (100 - 106) | DOI: 10.24911/BioMedica/5-1156
Practices of Dental Care and Treatment Provided to Pediatric Patients in Private Dental Clinics in Lahore, Pakistan
Authors:
Memoona Javed
, Amjad H Wyne
, Hammad Hassan
Article Info
Authors
Memoona Javed
Demonstrator, Pediatric Dentistry Department, Institute of Dentistry, CMH Lahore Medical College, NUMS
Amjad H Wyne
President, Pakistan Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
Hammad Hassan
Assistant Professor, Dental Materials Department, University of Health Sciences, Lahore
Publication History
Received: March 03, 2024
Revised: May 20, 2024
Accepted: June 14, 2024
Published: June 25, 2024
Abstract
Background and Objective: With the high prevalence of dental caries among children in Pakistan and the limited availability of pediatric dentists, dental care is provided majorly by general dentists. This study aims to determine the preventive dental care provided to pediatric dental patients by general dentists in private practice settings in Lahore.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 185 general dentists working in private dental clinics in Lahore, utilizing an online validated questionnaire designed by the authors and distributed through email and WhatsApp using a purposive sampling technique. Data were analyzed using statistical software, and p-value of 0.05 was taken as significant.
Results: Most respondents (73.5%) reported the unavailability of pediatric dentists in their clinics. About one-third of the respondents always chose to refer their child to a pediatric dentist. About 48.1% of the general dentists were “somewhat aware” of the behavioral management techniques. Pediatric-specific dental treatment services were more frequently provided in clinics where a pediatric dentist was available. Fillings were the most frequent (90.8%) treatment services, along with extractions (79.5%), pulpectomies (69.2%), and pulpotomies (65.9%). Notably, 74.1% of the general dentists had not attended any workshop or course in pediatric dentistry.
Conclusion: General dentists in private practices provide minimal dental treatment to pediatric patients, with a significant number lacking formal training in pediatric dentistry. This highlights the need for formal training programs to improve the quality of pediatric dental care.
Keywords: Dental care, general dentists, pediatric dentistry, dental treatment.