AWARENESS AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS SILVER DIAMINE FLOURIDE TREATMENT AMONG PAKISTANI DENTAL PRACTITIONERS IN ISLAMABAD PRIVATE AND GOVERNMENT DENTAL HOSPITALS

Abstract

The current study investigated the awareness regarding silver diamine fluoride treatment and the attitude towards the utilization of treatment among Pakistani dental practitioners. To test the proposed objective, a cross-sectional study with purposive and convenient sampling technique was utilized. The data was collected during the time period of July 2022 and August 2022, using a validated and published questionnaire. A sample of (N = 350) was collected from private and government dental hospitals of Islamabad with participants having age range of 24-67 (M = 35.20, SD = 7.66). The participants were provided with the questionnaire after seeking their consent. The questionnaire enquired the participants’ awareness regarding SDF treatment and their attitude towards its usage for dental carries. The dental practitioners from private and government hospitals of Islamabad provided their responses regarding the knowledge they had regarding SDF treatment and their consideration towards the treatment. The mean for knowledge and attitude of dental practitioner towards the treatment was 47.47 and 67.53 respectively. As majority of dental practitioners were greatly aware of SDF treatment, and majority of them agreed to the application of the treatment. This knowledge and attitude regarding the treatment was slightly higher in private dental hospitals as compared to government hospitals. The study provided significant results and held a thorough investigation while keeping in view the cost-effectiveness, ease of application and the non-esthetic prospect of the treatment.