Knowledge and attitude of probiotics and its health benefits among dental postgraduates and compulsory rotatory residential internship students of coastal Karnataka

• Author Details:   
• Karthika Ganesh
• Biju Thomas ^*
• Gauri Jayachandran
• Ipsitaa Agarwal
• Amitha Ramesh

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Background: Probiotics have been commonly used for the maintenance of gastrointestinal health and evidence suggests that it may also be beneficial for dental health. However, due to a lack of knowledge and doubts about their safety and efficacy, health professionals are reluctant to recommend probiotics to their patients. Hence, this study aims to understand the knowledge and attitude of dental professionals towards probiotics.

Materials and Methods: A pre-validated 15-item closed-ended questionnaire was used to assess knowledge and attitudes about probiotics among 250 dental postgraduates and CRRI students from various dental institutions in coastal Karnataka.

Results: The study found that postgraduates, though not significant, had better awareness of probiotics and their ability to inhibit pathogen growth on dental plaque compared to CRRI. Postgraduates also recognized the limited use of probiotics in dentistry. Conversely, CRRI emphasized the importance of educating healthcare professionals about probiotics.

Conclusion: Dental postgraduates have a solid understanding of probiotics, while undergraduates or CRRI would benefit from comprehensive education on their applications in dental care.