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General dentists serve as key players in the proper treatment of malocclusion, since they not only refer patients to further specialized care, but also provide interceptive and other orthodontics services. In fact, 19.3 percent of general dentists provide comprehensive 1 orthodontic treatment to their patients. One of the most common etiologies for the development of dental caries, uorosis, 2 temporomandibular disorders and gingival diseases is malocclusion. Tooth malposition may also lead to difculty in functional movements of the mandible, difculty in mastication, swallowing, speech, 3 increased susceptibility to trauma or periodontal problems. The referral practitioners especially general dental practitioners decide 4,5 when and where to send or refer an orthodontic patients. A survey of predoctoral orthodontic education in the United States in the 1980s illustrated a wide range in the numbers of hours devoted to orthodontics and the timing of didactic and clinical instruction. The same survey recommended specic minimum hours of instructions be required for the topics described in the American Dental Association's 6 Commissions on Dental Accreditation (CODA) guidelines. Studies have shown that general dentists provide many comprehensive orthodontic treatment procedures even they are not specialized to 7,1 precede such cases. such as malocclusions like cross bite, open bites 8,9 and deep bites. Therefore, there is a need to identify the knowledge levels of dental practitioners with respect to the orthodontic treatment as they play an important role in inculcating healthy lifestyles practices to their patients. According to Murlidhar R Sastri study show the need for increased clinically oriented education of practice and concept of 10 orthodontic treatment. The result of this study may be used as a basis for evaluation of the knowledge of the general dental practitioners and assisting dental schools in evaluating their curricula to better prepare graduates in the management of orthodontic issues. |
