Curb the Menace, Stop Quackery, Prevalence and Factors Affecting the Visit to Dental Quacks: A Cross-sectional Study

Context: Dental quackery has become one of the most unethical practices misleading majority of the Indian population. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the factors affecting the visit to dental quacks in near vicinity to Bathinda city with the objective to evaluate the percentage of general population visiting a quack for dental treatment. Materials and Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional study among residents of Bathinda district which was carried for 2 months using convenient sampling method by home to home survey. Data collection was done using a predesigned, pretested questionnaire which consisted 14 closed ended questions and 2 open ended questions collecting information about the number of Quacks, factors influencing the visit to Quacks, and the sterilization protocols followed during the procedure. Chi-square test was used for analysis. P <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 340 samples were collected. Around 72.6% participants agreed of dental quacks practicing in their area. Among those 60.9% know about dental quacks from friend or family members, followed by 10.6% were referred by pharmacist or shopkeeper. Surprisingly 55.3% participants were not even aware of registered qualified dentist are the only people allowed to practice dentistry and not the quacks. Suburban people visited dental quacks more often (65.30%) in comparison to urban population and the difference is statistically significant ( P = 0.001). Conclusions: By prioritizing the protection of the public through stringent implementation and enforcement of laws, we can create a healthcare environment that is safer, more reliable, and focused on providing high-quality care to all individuals.