MDS
100 Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry Thesis Topics
Academic session 2026-2027 · 100 topics
This page lists 100 pedodontics and preventive dentistry thesis topics for Master of Dental Surgery postgraduate students for the 2026-2027 academic session. The topics are structured around practical dissertation questions that can be adapted to the clinical workload, imaging facilities, laboratory support, materials and records available in a dental teaching institution.
The pedodontics and preventive dentistry thesis topics below cover early childhood caries, preventive dentistry, fluoride, sealants, paediatric restorative materials, pulp therapy, traumatic dental injuries, behaviour management, oral habits, special healthcare needs and paediatric oral-health knowledge. They include cross-sectional, observational, comparative, imaging-based, record-based and in-vitro approaches so that students can select a research question that matches their departmental resources while retaining a clearly measurable primary outcome.
Click any topic to open it in the protocol generator with the title already filled in.
- Prevalence and severity of early childhood caries and associated sociodemographic factors among preschool children: a cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Association between infant and young child feeding practices and early childhood caries among preschool children: an observational cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Comparison of early childhood caries prevalence among children attending government and private preschools: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Association between frequency of sugar consumption and dental caries experience among preschool children: a cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Comparison of dental caries experience among children with high and low frequency of sugar-containing snack consumption: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Association between nocturnal feeding practices and early childhood caries among children aged two to five years: an observational cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Comparison of dental caries experience among breastfed, bottle-fed and mixed-fed preschool children based on feeding history: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Association between parental education and early childhood caries among preschool children: a cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Comparison of dental caries experience among children from different socioeconomic groups: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Association between parental oral health literacy and dental caries experience among preschool children: an observational cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Prevalence of dental caries and associated risk factors among school-going children aged six to twelve years: a cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Comparison of dental caries experience among urban and rural school-going children: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Association between tooth-brushing practices and dental caries among school-going children: an observational cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Comparison of dental caries prevalence among children using fluoridated and non-fluoridated dentifrices: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Association between consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and dental caries among adolescents: a cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Comparison of caries experience among normal-weight, underweight and overweight school-going children: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Association between salivary pH and dental caries experience among school-going children: an observational cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Comparison of salivary flow rate and buffering capacity among caries-active and caries-free children: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Association between plaque levels and dental caries severity among children aged six to twelve years: a cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Comparison of caries-risk profiles among children with and without active dental caries using a standardized caries-risk assessment tool: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Prevalence of dental anxiety and associated factors among children attending a paediatric dental clinic: a cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Association between previous dental experiences and dental anxiety among school-aged children: an observational cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Comparison of dental anxiety among children with and without previous dental treatment experience: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Association between parental dental anxiety and child dental anxiety during a dental visit: a cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Comparison of dental anxiety among children accompanied by mothers and fathers: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Association between child temperament and behaviour during dental examination: an observational cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Comparison of behaviour during dental examination among children of different age groups: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Association between parenting style and child behaviour in the paediatric dental clinic: an observational cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Comparison of dental anxiety among children attending government and private dental care facilities: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Association between waiting-room screen exposure and pre-treatment dental anxiety among children: a cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Comparison of self-reported and parent-reported dental anxiety among school-aged children: a comparative agreement study.Get protocol
- Assessment of parental preferences regarding commonly used behaviour guidance techniques in paediatric dentistry: a cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Comparison of acceptance of pharmacological and non-pharmacological behaviour guidance techniques among parents: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Association between parental educational status and acceptance of behaviour guidance techniques in paediatric dentistry: an observational cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Oral health status and treatment needs among children with special healthcare needs attending a tertiary care centre: a cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Comparison of dental caries and oral hygiene status among children with special healthcare needs and typically developing children: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Association between caregiver oral health knowledge and oral hygiene status of children with special healthcare needs: an observational cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Comparison of oral health status among children with autism spectrum disorder and typically developing children: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Dental anxiety and behavioural characteristics among children with autism spectrum disorder attending a dental clinic: an observational cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Comparison of oral hygiene practices and dental treatment needs among children with different categories of developmental disabilities: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding preventive oral healthcare among parents of preschool children: a cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Association between parental oral health knowledge and oral hygiene status of preschool children: an observational cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Comparison of oral health knowledge and practices among parents of children attending government and private schools: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Knowledge and practices regarding fluoride-containing toothpaste among parents of preschool children: a cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Comparison of toothpaste quantity and brushing practices among parents of preschool and school-aged children: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Association between parental supervision of tooth brushing and plaque status among young children: an observational cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Comparison of plaque and gingival status among children using manual and powered toothbrushes: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Association between frequency of tooth brushing and oral hygiene status among school-going children: a cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Knowledge and utilization of pit and fissure sealants among parents of school-going children: an observational cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Prevalence of pit and fissure sealant use and associated factors among school-going children: a cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Comparison of retention characteristics of different pit and fissure sealant materials under standardized laboratory conditions: an in-vitro comparative study.Get protocol
- Comparison of microleakage of resin-based and glass ionomer-based pit and fissure sealants: an in-vitro study.Get protocol
- Effect of different enamel conditioning methods on microleakage of pit and fissure sealants: an in-vitro comparative study.Get protocol
- Comparison of fluoride release from different fluoride-containing restorative and preventive dental materials: an in-vitro study.Get protocol
- Comparison of fluoride recharge ability of different glass ionomer-based restorative materials: an in-vitro comparative study.Get protocol
- Comparison of enamel microhardness following application of different topical fluoride agents: an in-vitro study.Get protocol
- Comparison of remineralizing potential of fluoride varnish and selected calcium-phosphate-based agents on artificial enamel lesions: an in-vitro comparative study.Get protocol
- Effect of commonly consumed paediatric beverages on enamel surface microhardness: an in-vitro study.Get protocol
- Comparison of erosive potential of packaged fruit juices, carbonated beverages and sports drinks on primary tooth enamel: an in-vitro comparative study.Get protocol
- Association between dietary practices, oral hygiene behaviours and dental caries experience among school-going children: an observational cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Comparison of accuracy of different diagnostic methods for assessing proximal caries in primary molars: a comparative diagnostic study.Get protocol
- Comparison of conventional visual-tactile examination and digital radiography for detection of proximal caries in primary teeth: a comparative diagnostic study.Get protocol
- Comparison of caries detection using conventional radiography and fluorescence-based diagnostic methods in primary molars: a comparative in-vitro study.Get protocol
- Assessment of reasons for pulpal therapy in primary teeth among children attending a paediatric dental department: a retrospective cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Pattern of primary teeth requiring pulpotomy and pulpectomy in a tertiary dental care centre: a record-based cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Comparison of antimicrobial efficacy of different root canal irrigants against microorganisms associated with infected primary teeth: an in-vitro study.Get protocol
- Comparison of smear layer removal by different irrigating solutions in primary root canals: an in-vitro comparative study.Get protocol
- Comparison of antimicrobial efficacy of different obturating materials used in primary teeth: an in-vitro study.Get protocol
- Comparison of sealing ability of different obturating materials used for primary tooth pulpectomy: an in-vitro comparative study.Get protocol
- Comparison of root canal filling quality achieved with different obturation techniques in primary teeth: an in-vitro study.Get protocol
- Comparison of fracture resistance of primary molars restored with different restorative materials following pulpotomy: an in-vitro comparative study.Get protocol
- Comparison of marginal adaptation of different preformed crowns used for restoration of primary molars: an in-vitro study.Get protocol
- Comparison of fracture resistance of stainless steel, zirconia and aesthetic preformed crowns for primary molars: an in-vitro comparative study.Get protocol
- Comparison of marginal fit of stainless steel and zirconia crowns for primary molars: an in-vitro study.Get protocol
- Comparison of colour stability of different aesthetic restorative materials used in paediatric dentistry: an in-vitro comparative study.Get protocol
- Comparison of surface roughness of paediatric restorative materials following exposure to commonly consumed beverages: an in-vitro study.Get protocol
- Comparison of microleakage of conventional glass ionomer cement, resin-modified glass ionomer cement and composite resin in primary teeth: an in-vitro comparative study.Get protocol
- Effect of different surface-conditioning methods on bond strength of restorative materials to primary tooth dentin: an in-vitro study.Get protocol
- Comparison of shear bond strength of different adhesive systems to primary enamel and dentin: an in-vitro comparative study.Get protocol
- Assessment of common technical errors in pulp therapy of primary teeth using existing postoperative radiographs: a retrospective cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Prevalence and pattern of traumatic dental injuries among school-going children: a cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Association between overjet and traumatic dental injuries involving permanent anterior teeth among school children: an observational cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Comparison of traumatic dental injury prevalence among boys and girls: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Association between participation in sports and traumatic dental injuries among school-going children: a cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Knowledge and practices regarding emergency management of avulsed permanent teeth among school teachers: a cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Comparison of knowledge regarding traumatic dental injury management among school teachers and physical education teachers: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Knowledge and preparedness regarding management of traumatic dental injuries among parents of school-going children: an observational cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Comparison of knowledge regarding dental trauma management among medical and dental undergraduate students: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Prevalence and pattern of developmental dental anomalies among children using panoramic radiographs: a retrospective cross-sectional imaging study.Get protocol
- Comparison of developmental dental anomalies among male and female children using panoramic radiographs: a comparative imaging study.Get protocol
- Prevalence and distribution of supernumerary teeth among children attending a tertiary dental care centre: a cross-sectional radiographic study.Get protocol
- Comparison of dental age and chronological age among children using panoramic radiographic assessment: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Accuracy of different radiographic dental age estimation methods among Indian children: a comparative imaging study.Get protocol
- Association between dental development and nutritional status among school-going children: an observational cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Prevalence and pattern of premature loss of primary teeth among school-going children: a cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Association between premature loss of primary teeth and developing malocclusion among children: an observational cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Assessment of oral health-related quality of life and its association with dental caries among school-going children: a cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Comparison of oral health-related quality of life among children with and without untreated dental caries: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Assessment of unmet dental treatment needs and barriers to dental care among school-going children: a cross-sectional study.Get protocol
- Comparison of dental treatment needs, oral hygiene status and dental service utilization among children attending government and private schools: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
Choosing a Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry thesis topic
How should I choose a feasible Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry thesis topic?
Start with the cases, records, imaging facilities, laboratory methods and materials that are consistently available in your department. A feasible paediatric dentistry thesis should have a clearly defined primary outcome and should not depend on expensive equipment or rare patients unless access is already assured. Before finalizing the protocol, review recent departmental case numbers, identify the variables that can be measured reliably, and decide whether the proposed comparison groups are realistically available. A focused question with adequate numbers is usually stronger than a technically ambitious project that cannot recruit or complete its planned measurements.
Which study designs are practical for an MDS thesis in Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry?
Cross-sectional, comparative cross-sectional, retrospective record-based, imaging-based and in-vitro designs are often practical for an MDS dissertation because they can be completed within a defined academic period. The best design depends on the research question and available resources. Clinical prevalence or association questions generally suit cross-sectional methods, existing case records can support retrospective studies, and material or technique comparisons may suit controlled in-vitro work. The protocol should specify the sampling method, primary variable, measurement technique and statistical comparison in advance rather than selecting a design solely because it appears easy to conduct.
What should be checked before finalizing a Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry dissertation protocol?
Confirm that the department can provide enough eligible observations during the proposed study period and that every major variable can be measured using a standardized method. For imaging or record-based work, review a small sample of existing records to assess completeness and consistency. For in-vitro projects, verify availability of specimens, materials, equipment and the testing method before calculating the sample size. The final protocol should clearly separate the primary objective from secondary objectives, define inclusion and exclusion criteria, identify potential confounders where relevant, and use outcomes that directly answer the stated research question.
Thesis and protocol questions
How is a thesis topic different from a thesis protocol?
The topic is the title — the question a study sets out to answer, together with the population and the design. The protocol is the full document built around it: background, review of literature, aims and objectives, inclusion and exclusion criteria, sample size calculation, methodology, statistical plan, ethics considerations, consent documents and references. A topic is agreed with a guide first; the protocol is written afterwards and submitted to the institutional ethics committee.
When does a postgraduate thesis have to be submitted?
For most Indian postgraduate programmes the protocol is submitted within the first six months of joining, and the completed thesis is submitted at least six months before the final examination. Exact deadlines are set by the university, so the departmental circular for the current session takes precedence over any general timeline.
How is sample size decided for a postgraduate thesis?
Sample size follows from the primary objective, not the other way round. A prevalence study is powered from an expected proportion and an acceptable margin of error; a comparative study is powered from the expected difference between groups, the standard deviation, alpha and desired power. The figure should then be checked against the institution's actual case load for the study period, because a statistically ideal sample that cannot be recruited in the time available is not a workable plan.
Does a thesis topic need ethics committee approval?
Yes. Every postgraduate thesis involving human participants, human data or human samples requires clearance from the institutional ethics committee before data collection begins. Approval is granted on the protocol rather than on the title, and the submission usually includes the protocol, the participant information sheet and the consent form in English and in the local language.
What makes a topic realistic for a three-year postgraduate programme?
A workable topic can be completed at a single centre, with equipment and investigations that are already available in routine practice, within roughly eighteen months of data collection. Topics that depend on external funding, specialised assays, multicentre coordination or long follow-up tend to stall. Choosing a condition the department already sees in volume matters more than choosing a novel one.
Can a thesis be published as a research paper afterwards?
Yes, and it is generally expected. A thesis is usually condensed into a paper of around three to four thousand words, restructured into the standard introduction, methods, results and discussion format, with the review of literature shortened considerably. Journals differ in their requirements, and the ethics approval number from the original thesis is normally cited in the methods section.