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Indian Journal of Dental Education 19(2):p 55-58, May - Aug 2026. | DOI: 10.21088/ijde.0974.6099.19226.1
Original Article
Tiny Teeth, Big Responsibility: Knowledge, Practice and Future Perception of Undergraduate Dental Students Toward Pediatric Dentistry
Sharyu Waskar, Rajesh Anegundi
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Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
Indian Journal of Dental Education 19(2):p 55-58, May - Aug 2026. | DOI: 10.21088/ijde.0974.6099.19226.1
How Cite This Article:
Rajesh Anegundi, Sharyu Waskar. Tiny Teeth, Big Responsibility: Knowledge, Practice and Future Perception of Undergraduate Dental Students Toward Pediatric Dentistry. Ind J Dent Educ. 2026 • 19(2): 55-58.Timeline
Received : February 22, 2026
Accepted : August 24, 2026
Published : August 30, 2026
Abstract
Background: Pediatric dentistry is a specialized branch of dental science that focuses on the oral health of infants, children, and adolescents. It encompasses preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic care tailored to the unique needs of young patients. For undergraduate dental students, exposure to pediatric dentistry is an essential component of their training. Their knowledge, clinical practice experiences, and perceptions toward this specialty influence both their competence in managing pediatric patients and their willingness to pursue pediatric dentistry as a career. However, challenges such as limitations in delivering best treatment to child patient, afraid to treat young patient may affect the student’s perception towards pediatric dentistry. Objective: To assess undergraduate dental students’ knowledge, clinical exposure, and future perception towards pediatric dentistry, and to understand how they view its importance, challenges and careers prospects. Methodology: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey will be conducted among undergraduate dental students. It has 3 domain which will assess theoretical knowledge, practice and future perception of students. Then data will be analysed to identify trends and association between knowledge, practice and perception of students. Result: Result of the study showed that both final year and interns have moderate level of knowledge, while interns are more interested in clinical practice than final year students. Conclusion: Study concluded that preoccupation of pediatric dentistry is questionable. Students are not sure about preffering pediatric dentistry as a post graduate subject which is may be due to less awareness about the subject, vastness of the subject or may be due to less awareness of subject by the society.
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Cite this article
Rajesh Anegundi, Sharyu Waskar. Tiny Teeth, Big Responsibility: Knowledge, Practice and Future Perception of Undergraduate Dental Students Toward Pediatric Dentistry. Ind J Dent Educ. 2026 • 19(2): 55-58.
Licence:
Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
| Received | Accepted | Published |
|---|---|---|
| February 22, 2026 | August 24, 2026 | August 30, 2026 |
DOI: 10.21088/ijde.0974.6099.19226.1
Keywords
Pediatric DentistrUndergraduate Dental StudentsFuture PerceptionPedodonticsBDS StudentsSearch for Similar Articles
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Timeline
| Received | February 22, 2026 |
| Accepted | August 24, 2026 |
| Published | August 30, 2026 |
licence
Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)
This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
