Tahura Etezadi - Assistant Professor, Department of Orthodontics, Dental Research Center, Faculty of Dentistry, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Mehran Armin - Assistant Professor, Department of Orthodontics, Dental Research Center, Faculty of Dentistry, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Reza Nazarali - Student of Dentistry, Dental Research Center, Student Research Committee, Faculty of Dentistry, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Sepideh Dadgar - Assistant Professor, Department of Orthodontics, Dental Research Center, Faculty of Dentistry, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Melika Mollaei - Student of Dentistry, Dental Research Center, Student Research Committee, Faculty of Dentistry, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran

Background: Proper education in oral and dental health behaviors and preventive orthodontics is vital for preventing dental diseases and orthodontic abnormalities. Since children spend much time in schools and in contact with their teachers, the current study aimed to assess the level of awareness about preventive orthodontics among school hygiene instructors in Sari, Iran.Methods: Seventy-one hygiene instructors were included in this semi-experimental study with a pre-test and post-test design. The participants completed a questionnaire before any intervention. A one-day workshop about preventive orthodontics was held for the instructors, and an educational CD and pamphlet were provided for them. The participants were asked to answer the same questions after a month. Data were compared and analyzed with SPSS ۲۲, using paired t-test and chi-squared test.Results: The findings revealed that the training could significantly increase the level of orthodontic awareness among hygiene instructors (P<۰.۰۰۱). However, the participant’s level of education and years of experience was not significantly associated with their level of awareness (P>۰.۰۵).Conclusion: Considering the importance of health education, efficient training should be provided for school hygiene instructors to increase their awareness in the field of preventive orthodontics.

Awareness, preventive orthodontics, school hygiene instructors