Investment in training and knowledge of periodontal diseases in dental careers

Abstract

Periodontal disease involves a state of chronic progressive destruction of the supporting tissues of teeth caused by predisposing factors most often poor hygiene.  The knowledge acquired by students during their undergraduate studies on the management of periodontal disease is of vital importance for their performance in their dental practice. Objective: To evaluate the level of knowledge about periodontal disease in students of the Dentistry course at the Catholic University of Cuenca, Azogues Campus during the academic period March - August 2024. Methodology: The data were collected through the application of a survey previously validated by Díaz (2023), which was aimed at the students of this university campus. The sample size consisted of 235 students from fifth to tenth grade. Results: Periodontal knowledge was rated as good in 48.5% and fair in 36.17% of the participants. The socio-demographic variables studied did not represent any relative significance, among these were: sex, origin and academic cycle and the level of periodontal knowledge. Although the majority of respondents were female, this did not have a significant impact on the level of knowledge. Both men and women showed similar levels according to the knowledge assessed, irrespective of their origin or academic cycle. Conclusions: The research carried out evidences that the level of knowledge in the different students evaluated is good emphasising the need to promote continuing education in diagnosis, prevention of the same.