Knowledge of Brazilian Dental Students about the Use of Conventional Fluoride Dentifrices for Preschool Children from Zero to Six Years Old

ABSTRACT

Objective: To verify the knowledge of dental students about the correct use of fluoride dentifrices above 1000 pmm fluorine for children aged 0-6 years old. Material and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study in which self-administered questionnaires were administered to 355 dental students from sixth to ninth or tenth graduation period. The questionnaires included questions regarding knowledge of the need to use, concentration, amount, frequency and potential adverse effects of the use of conventional fluoride dentifrices above 1000 ppm of fluorine by children up to six years of age, as well as the mechanism of action and the method of using fluorides that has the most scientific evidence. A descriptive analysis of data was performed. Results: 83.1% of students reported receiving content on the use of fluoride dentifrices in early childhood. Most students consider the use of fluoride dentifrice as important for the age group from zero to three years (73.8%) and from three to six years (96.4%). Only 17.7% would indicate fluoride toothpaste above 1000 ppm fluoride for children from zero to three years and 40.6% for three to six years. 76.9% believe that the amount of ideal refers to a grain of rice (0-3 years) and 61.7% of pea grain (3-6 years). 43.4% of students believe that fluoride dentifrices as an adverse effect the potential to cause fluorosis independent of concentration. Conclusion: The students evaluated were misleading about the fluoride concentration of the dentifrices indicated for children up to six years of age; on the toxicity of fluorine; action mechanism of fluorides and the scientific method of greater scientific evidence on caries disease. Failures in training and need to update fluoride contents to be taught to future dentistry professionals are evident.