الفهرس 
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Abstract
The primary sohool teaoher is a key figure in the healtheduoation program for school children. For this reason eduoational and health authorities should give serious consideration to the preparation of primary school. teachers. The object’of the present study is to define the knowledge, attitudes and praotices of primary school teaohers concerning oral hygiene in order to determine. health education requirements which would improve the oral health habit2! of the teachers and consequently of the pupils. Astratified random sample of 400 class and science ” teachers in Alexandria priamry schools was selected to represent the three types of schools i.e 340 governmental, 35 private and 25 private language schools. The sample consisted of 82 males and 318 females the age ranged between 20 and 50 years. . , ~pecial form was constructed containing . . .multiple choioe questions on dental health knowledge, attitudes and ~practices. At the same time oral examination was conducted on the selected teachers and the results were recorded in a special form. The study has yielded the followi~ results: I- Concerning Dental Health Knowled~e : 1. The teaohers, were nearly knowledgeable about the’ cause of dental caries (77.75), while 22.25 did not know the correot cause of dental caries. 2. 63 of tne total sample teaohers gave correct answers to the nature of the calculus layer formed on teeth and gum. 3. 85 of the total sample teaohers were knowledgeable about ’.the effe’ct of caloulus on teeth and gums. 4. About the oause, of bleeding after toothbrushing, 90.75 gave o~rrect answers. 5. 46 of the tQta~sample teachers did not know the reason why fluoride is added to the toothpaste. 6. As regard the knowledge of school teachers about the number of ,primary and permanent teeth, time . of eruption of primary teeth and- time of eruption of 1st permanent tooth, the teaohers showed high scores of Oorrect answers; 58.75, 91.50, 67.75 and 68.2,5. 7. Concerning the manifestations of diseased gum, 85.75,0£ teachers gave true answers. 8. As regard the ,relation between sweets and dental caries, 78 of t’he sample gave correct answers. 9. Nearly half of the total sample teachers (49), did not know any method for cleaning their teeth other than. toothbrush. II- Concerni~ Attitudes Towards Dental Health j 1. Concerning the attitudes of the teachers towards decayed, primary tooth in children, only (16.25 will feel mild pain and he should tolerate. 3. Concerning the attitude of school teachers when they feel mild pain in teeth or gum, 41.5 of the sample teachers preferred going to the dentist. III- Concerning Dental Health Practices of Primary school’Teachers : 1. More than three fourths of the sample (77) brushed their teeth more than once a day. 2. 30.25 of the teachers used suitable toothbrush (soft and small size), while only (1) did not us e any toothbrush. 3. Only 10.75 of.the sample teachers stated that . they visit the dentist for regular check-up. 4. As regard .the behaviour of school teachers after eating sweets, 30.5 only stated that they brush their teeth after eating sweets. IV- Results of oral examination of school teachers: Oral examination of the sample members revealed that 41.25 had healthy teeth or teeth with few carious, lesions. The unhealthy (58..75) were those with moderate and severe cas.es of carious lesions. . . Regard~ng the level of periodontal status, 27 of the teachers bad healthy periodontium or mild gingivitis. The unhealthy teachers (73) were those with moderate and severe periodontal disease. v- Curriculum of Teaohers’ Institutes : In the first three years, the student teachers are taughtbasl0 subjects such as Arabic language, mathematics,. Science., religion, english language, drawing and arts and musio. After the third. year, the student chooses one of the following specialities: Science, Literature, Physical education, music, art and skills. T~ school health subjeot is taught to all students in the fourth and fifth years. Under the topio’of oral hygiene comes the different items about dental caries, oral hygiene habits and nutrition. VI- Recommendations : The following recommendations are suggested: 1. Revision’of the subject of oral hygiene taught at the Institutes ot Teachers with the aim of development and expanding the content of the course. Acoordingly the time allooated for the course which ~s now t~irty hours in each year has to be increased and the oourse may be distributed over the ~ive academic years in~tead of the fourth:and fifth years as it is .praotised now. 2. We recommend the oourse given at the teaohers . I Institutes be oondu~ted by qualified dentists and the theoretiosl ’teaching be reinforced by visits and demonstrationS.at the sohool Dental Health Department., 3. Primary sohool teaohers should be well prepared to teach oral hygiene to school children. Teachers should actively participate in the comprehensive medioal .examination of school ohildren oonduoted at the beginning of the academio year. Short term refresher courses and training programs oan be organized for primary sohool teachers. 4. Posters, models and films may be supplied to teachers institutes and sChools to be used as teaohing aids.