EVALUATION OF AWARENESS LEVEL OF PROFESSORS, STUDENTS AND LAY PEOPLE ABOUT HUMAN TEETH BANK FUNCTIONS AND PURPOSES

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the awareness level of dental professors and students, and of lay people, about Human Teeth Bank (HTB) existence and operation, functions and purposes. Materials and Methods: A descriptive and prospective study was conducted, with a sample size of 50 students, 50 lay people, and 32 professors. The inclusion criteria for the study were: undergraduate dental students from the 1st to the 10th semester, dental professors at Federal University of Paraiba, and people from the general population who were at the university. The exclusion criteria were individuals linked somehow to the Human Teeth Bank of the Federal University of Paraiba. The data were collected using questionnaires and analyzed by descriptive statistics. Results: Most lay people reported to be in favor of organ donation (88%), but most of them (80%) were not “organ donors”. Eighty-six percent did not know about the existence of the Teeth Bank, but 84% of them would donate his or her extracted teeth. Among the students, 84% had already been requested to provide natural teeth for laboratory use or for research purposes. The teeth were obtained through different means, including the HTB. As for professors, the majority (53.1%) had already requested natural teeth from their students for laboratory use or for graduate research purposes. Conclusions: The lack of knowledge about the existence of the Teeth Bank was found to be high among the lay people. At the undergraduate level, extracted teeth are frequently requested for the conduction of experimental studies and other academic activities. All students and professors considered the Teeth Bank important to support academic and research activities. DESCRIPTORS Directed Tissue Donation. Tooth. Questionnaires.