[The level of knowledge of master's dental students in the Netherlands and Flanders about matrix metalloproteinases].

Abstract

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are enzymes involved in the remodelling and degradation of the extracellular matrix, which is essential for maintaining healthy oral tissues. It is therefore important for dental students to know the role of MMPs in biological processes and diseases. Using a questionnaire, a cross-sectional study was conducted among master's dental students from 3 universities in the Netherlands and Belgium. The general level of knowledge about MMPs of the 80 respondents was predominantly low (91.3%). Significant differences were observed among students from the various dental schools, with students from the University of Groningen and Ghent University scoring significantly higher than those from the Academic Centre for Dentistry in Amsterdam (ACTA). Gender was associated with a few questions on the relationship between MMPs and dentistry, with female students achieving higher scores. Improving dental curricula regarding MMPs and their role in dental processes seems warranted.