Dental Practitioners' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice (KAP) Regarding Caries Preventive Measures in Cairo Compared to Riyadh: A Cross-Sectional Study

Periodontal disease and dental caries have been regarded as the two most enormous worldwide health burdens. Currently, the distribution and severity fluctuate within a single nation or area and throughout the globe. According to epidemiological statistics, the frequency of dental caries has decreased in most industrialized nations over the past few decades. It has been suggested that it is due to the influence of multiple factors, including the use of fluoride, enhanced oral hygiene including brushing and flossing, dietary changes, and specific procedures performed in the dentist's office such as routine examinations, including diagnostic radiographs, scaling and polishing, fluoride applications, and sealants. Dental caries is a chronic, persistent dental condition that gets harder to cure as it progresses. The contemporary dental practice's preventive strategy has been acknowledged as a key factor in the recent drop in caries and a key component of the practice's service mix going forward. One of the World Health Organization's (WHO) major actions for ongoing oral health improvement is reorienting oral health services toward preventive and health promotion. A preventative approach can reduce the burden of oral health problems, as cited by WHO. Literature shows that although dentists' knowledge may be good, there are certain limitations to applying the preventive approach, lack of positive attitude, and implications in daily practice. With this background, the study aims to evaluate dental practitioners' knowledge, attitudes, and practice regarding caries preventive measures in Cairo compared to Riyadh.