Pediatrician`s KAP Profile regarding Dento-Facial Malocclusion among Southern Punjab, Pakistani Residents

Abstract

Introduction: Children who have poor dental habits and crooked teeth may experience problems with their oral and extra oral features and self-esteem. Pediatricians are in a position to detect these problems early and help manage them because they are the primary care doctors for children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the KAP Profile of pediatricians regarding dento-facial malocclusion among southern Punjab, Pakistani residents.

Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between July 2025 to January 2026 for 210 Pediatricians, Family Physicians and Post-graduate Trainees. Participants completed a prevalidated, structured 30-question electronic survey designed to evaluate their knowledge and practices related to these issues. The response were analyzed using SPSS software to identify trends and patterns.

Results: The majority of respondants were aware of the etiology of pediatric oral condition, especially thumb sucking (95.2%) and extended pacifier use (85.7%). The majority of respondents (93.3%) reported referring children with malocclusion to dental professionals, and a sizable majority (95.2%) thought paediatricians had a significant role in preventing dental issues. Only 33.3% of participants, however, had attended workshops specifically addressing these dental problems. The results also showed that pediatricians' handling of these disorders was strongly correlated with their years of clinical experience  and workplace environment.
Conclusions: The majority of participants knew that pediatricians play a crucial role in preventing orthodontic anomalies and parafunctional oral habits, but they lacked the necessary training and experience to conduct a thorough and methodical examination for malocclusion and parafunctional oral habits.