Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was designed, pre-tested and distributed among teachers in four selected schools in Negeri Sembilan. It contained two parts; fifteen questions on the knowledge of oral health including causes, prevention and treatment of common oral diseases and eleven questions on teachers' opinion on their roles in promoting oral health in their schools. Answers were structured based on ‘agreement' or ‘disagreement' of the statement, or ‘don't know'.
Results: A total of 132 teachers (36 males, 96 females) returned completed forms. Their teaching experience ranged from 1-30 years (mod 10 years, n=12). Majority of the teachers answered well in all questions asked regarding oral health (74.2 – 99.2% agreement/disagreement). However not many disagreed that ‘all carious teeth must be extracted' and agreed that ‘toothache can lead to facial swelling if untreated' (57.6% and 60.6% respectively). Most of the teachers agreed that they have important role in oral health promotion (72.7 – 99.2% agreement) but only 59.8% agreed that their involvement would not interfere with their daily work.
Conclusion: In general, schoolteachers showed good oral health knowledge and perceived they have important role in promoting oral health in schools. This implies that with good strategies and collaboration between health sector and schools, oral health promotion can benefit and reach more school children.