Evaluation and Comparison of Knowledge of General Dentist and Senior Dental Students Regarding pre-cancerous Lesions in Tehran City in 2023

Background and Aim: Early detection of precancerous oral lesions is the most efficient strategy to prevent oral cancer. Considering the significant effect of knowledge level of dentists and dental students on early detection of such lesions, this study aimed to assess and compare the knowledge level of general dentists and senior dental students about precancerous oral lesions. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated 92 general dentists and 96 senior dental students attending dental schools of Tehran in 2023. A valid and reliable questionnaire was used to collect information regarding the knowledge level of the participants about precancerous oral lesions and their demographic variables. Data were analyzed by independent samples test and ANOVA using SPSS (alpha=0.05). Results: The mean knowledge score was 7.97±2.15 for dental students and 6.84±2.05 for general dentists, out of 14. The knowledge level of dental students was significantly higher than that of general dentists (P<0.05). The knowledge score of dental students had no significant association with their age, gender, attending university, or university admission time (P>0.05). Also, no significant association was found between the knowledge score of dentists and their age, gender, graduation time, or workplace (P>0.05). Conclusion: The present results indicated insufficient knowledge level of dental students and general dentists about precancerous oral lesions. Therefore, further attention should be paid to designing educational programs for inclusion in dental curricula and continuing education courses for knowledge enhancement of dental students and graduates in this respect.