Dental Myth, Fallacies and Misconceptions in Rural Population of Bhopal City: A Cross-sectional Study

Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of myths related to dentistry in the rural population of Bhopal city. The minimum sample size calculated was 100 individual persons.

Introduction- The underlying cultural beliefs and practices influence the conditions of the teeth and mouth, through diet, care-seeking behaviour, or use of home remedies. Myths may arise as either truthful depictions or over­ elaborated accounts of historical events, as allegory or personification of natural phenomena, or as an explanation of ritual.

Materials and Methods: The questionnaire consisted of two parts. The first part included a provision for recording socio-demographic data of the participant. The second part consisted of a set of 23 closed-ended questions on myths related to dentistry classified under five domains—decayed tooth, oral hygiene, primary dentition, tobacco, and treatment.

Statistical Evaluation: The questionnaire was investigator administered. A calibrate examiner was asked the question to the participants for the better response rate of the study. For the statistical analysis, SPSS version 23 was used.

Result- In the present study 24% of the study participants were 20 to 30 years of age 56% participants were 30-40 years of age 16% participants were 40-50 years of age and 4% participants were more than 50 years of age. In the present study, 54% were male and 46% were female. 41% of study participants were educated and 59% of study participants were uneducated. There was 91% of study participants had a dental history.

Discussion: Inequalities in oral health persist worldwide, with mainly affected being the deprived population. India has a low budget to meet the general populations’ oral health treat­ment needs, a high disease burden and a low literacy rate. All these factors predispose the general population to poor oral healthcare, false treatment needs assumptions and false beliefs.