Table 3 Assessment of ECC-related attitudes of dental undergraduates and residents (N = 422)

Children under the age of 3 can use fluoride toothpaste

16 (26.2)

17 (31.5)

54 (59.3)

40 (36.5)

51 (48.1)

178 (42.2)

0.001

Children under the age of 2 should avoid added sugars in their diets

29 (47.5)

27 (50.0)

61 (67.0)

58 (52.7)

63 (59.4)

238 (56.4)

0.015

ECC can affect children’s overall health

34 (55.7)

33 (61.1)

71 (78.0)

88 (80.0)

86 (81.1)

312 (73.9)

0.000

The frequency and effectiveness of brushing in children can affect the occurrence of ECC

54 (88.5)

47 (87.0)

88 (96.7)

104 (94.6)

100 (94.3)

393 (93.1)

0.175

Regular follow-up would be beneficial for controlling ECC

59 (96.7)

51 (94.4)

89 (97.8)

107 (97.3)

103 (97.2)

409 (96.9)

0.585

Responding, n (%)

Total, n (%)

pValue by Chi-square test

Undergraduates

Residents

4th-year

5th-year

1st-year

2nd-year

3rd-year

What is the appropriate age for a child’s first visit to the dentist?

First primary tooth eruption

30 (49.2)

32 (59.3)

68 (74.7)

83 (75.5)

86 (81.1)

299 (70.9)

0.000

1-year-old

24 (39.3)

8 (14.8)

15 (16.5)

13 (11.8)

8 (7.6)

68 (16.1)

3-year-old

1 (1.6)

1 (1.9)

5 (5.5)

11 (10.0)

7 (6.6)

25 (5.9)

Not sure

6 (9.8)

13 (24.1)

3 (3.3)

3 (2.7)

5 (4.7)

30 (7.1)

When should a child begin brushing their teeth?

1-year-old

22 (36.1)

17 (31.5)

17 (18.7)

20 (18.2)

17 (16.0)

93 (22.0)

0.105

First primary tooth eruption

33 (54.1)

33 (61.1)

70 (76.9)

81 (73.6)

82 (77.4)

299 (70.9)

3-year-old

1 (1.6)

0 (0.0)

0 (0.0)

4 (3.6)

2 (1.9)

7 (1.7)

Preschool

2 (3.3)

0 (0.0)

2 (2.2)

1 (0.9)

0 (0.0)

5 (1.2)

First permanent tooth eruption

2 (3.3)

3 (5.6)

1 (1.1)

2 (1.8)

3 (2.8)

11 (2.6)

Not sure

1 (1.6)

1 (1.9)

1 (1.1)

2 (1.8)

2 (1.9)

7 (1.7)