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Updated: May 27, 2026

Oral Biofilm Sampling for Microbiome Analysis in Healthy Children
Published on: December 31, 2017
Knowledge of paediatricians regarding child oral health
Raquel Balaban1, Carlos Menezes Aguiar, Ana Cláudia da Silva Araújo
1Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. raquelbalaban@hotmail.com
Background:
In dentistry, clinical practice is directed towards attitudes that promote oral health and the paediatricians occupy a privileged position in this process.
Aim:
To assess the knowledge and attitudes of paediatricians in relation to the oral health of their patients.
Design:
A cross-sectional study was carried out at the Institute of Integrative Medicine Professor Fernando Figueira, Recife, Brazil. A total of 182 paediatricians participated by filling out a questionnaire.
Results:
A total of 63.9% believed the first visit to the dentist should occur before the child completes 1 year of life. Moreover, 67.8% considered their knowledge on oral health to be insufficient. Approximately 78% of the paediatricians diagnosed caries through an analysis of cavities. Only 29.9% always recommended fluoride dentifrice. The term 'fluorosis' was unknown by 48.3% of the respondents. Concerning pacifiers, 32.6% did not allow it and 66.9% did not either recommend it or restrict it. A total of 83.4% classified the oral health content in their medical education as either nonexistent or deficient; this figure remained high (72.4%) in relation to residency.
Conclusions:
It is important to develop oral health information programmes to paediatricians. Information on oral health should be included in medical curricula and residency.
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