DENTAL STUDENTS' KNOWLEDGE REGARDING INFANT CARE

Abstract

This study aimed to assess dental students' knowledge regarding care for nursing infants. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted to evaluate the knowledge level of UFPE dental students concerning this topic using a questionnaire. The results showed that students in their 10th semester reported greater exposure to content on breastfeeding during their undergraduate studies and demonstrated better performance on certain questions regarding knowledge and clinical practice. The majority recognized the importance of breastfeeding for a child's oral development and the dentist's role in promoting it. However, significant gaps were identified, particularly regarding recommendations on the duration of breastfeeding and the management of milk curd deposits (*saburra láctea*). Most participants believed the subject should be explored more thoroughly during academic training. It is concluded that there is a deficiency in the training of future dentists, as indicated by the students themselves and reinforced by the error rates on basic knowledge questions among those in their final year of study, suggesting that dental students' knowledge regarding care for nursing infants is unsatisfactory.