Awareness on various prosthetic treatments available for aesthetic and functional rehabilitation among 1st year dental students.

Prostheses are intra- oral structures which restores a missing tooth or a missing hard or soft structures and in return also improves various functions such as improving aesthetics, aids in speech, mastication [better chewing], etc. Few prosthetic treatments are dentures, partial denture, partial obturator, dental implants, etc. This research is needed to understand the knowledge of students on the various prosthetic treatments available, to understand the reason on why they are not aware and also if they are aware from whom they have gotten the information on the various treatments available. The main aim of this study is to create awareness on the various prosthetic treatments available among 1st year dental students and help them educate their family members and friends when in need of the treatments. Self administered survey was designed based on awareness. The questionnaire was distributed through an online survey link called Google Forms. The study population included 1st year dental students [17- 19 years]. The participants were explained about the purpose of the study in detail and then corresponding answers were marked. The data was then collected and statistically analysed. Among 101 participants, only 74.26% of the participants were aware of the various prosthetic treatments available out of which 49.50% participants were aware of the various uses of prosthesis such as mastication, replacing missing structures, restoring missing tooth, aids in speech. This study shows a normal level of consciousness on the various prosthetic treatments available. But more awareness must be created for a better treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]