Marzieh Pirzadeh-Ashraf - Resident, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Ahmad Behroozian - Assistant Professor, Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Zahra Aghazadeh - Assistant Professor, Department of Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Zahra Khalili-Sadrabad - Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Tehran Dental Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Parisa Jafari - Resident, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Reyhaneh Aftabi - Resident, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Shiva Pouradeli - PhD Candidate, Occupational Environment Research Center, School of medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Teachers and healthcare providers play an essential role in raising the level of awareness and knowledge and serve as a model for different aspects of healthcare. Primary school healthcare providers with the necessary education could improve the oral health of the students. One of the methods for evaluating oral health is the assessment of periodontal indices. The Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN) is one of the most common indices for the assessment of gingival status. This study aimed to evaluate gingival health and its relationship with the level and the type of education and activity of healthcare providers in elementary schoolchildren.METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on ۸۰۰ elementary schoolchildren in Tabriz, Iran, in ۲۰۱۷. Students’ gingival status was assessed with the CPITN. The healthcare teacher-associated factors, also, were determined through a checklist including age, sex, education, and activity. The data were analyzed with SPSS software. Independent t-test and chi-square test were done. P < ۰.۰۵ was considered significant.RESULTS: ۶۳.۲% of students had a CPITN score of ۱, ۳۱.۵% of students had a CPITN score of ۰, and ۵.۳% of students had a CPITN score of ۲. Students of teachers with higher academic education (P = ۰.۰۲۹) and with health-related education (P = ۰.۰۱۳) received lower CPITN scores and had better periodontal health. There was no statistically significant relationship between age, sex, and activity of the teachers and CPITN of the students (P > ۰.۰۵).CONCLUSION: There was a significant relationship between the gingival and oral health of students and the level of education of healthcare teachers and their health-related university education. We strongly recommend the continuing education program for the healthcare providers in elementary schools.

Gingiva, Health personnel, Periodontal index, Students