Download PDF
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Eur J Dent 2012; 06(04): 422-427
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1698982
Original Article
Dental Investigation Society

Reasons for use and non-use of dental services among people visiting a dental college hospital in India: A descriptive cross-sectional study

CG Devaraj
1   Department of Periodontology and Implanatology, Mahatma Gandhi Dental College and Hospital, RIICO Institutional area, Sitapura, Jaipur -302002, Rajasthan, INDIA
,
Pranati Eswar
2   Department of Public Health Dentistry, Mahatma Gandhi Dental College and Hospital, RIICO Institutional area, Sitapura, Jaipur -302002, Rajasthan, INDIA
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
15 October 2019 (online)

Also available at
  PDF Download Permissions and Reprints

ABSTRACT

Objective: To find out the reasons for use and non-use of dental services among people visiting a dental college hospital in India.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out on 180 people, aged 15-65 years visiting the outpatient department of a dental college hospital in India. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data about the history of dental visits and reasons for use and non-use of dental services.

Results:For a majority of the people (38.5%), time since the last dental visit was more than 2 years, and the main reason for visiting a dentist was dental pain (35.3%). Majority of the people had undergone extraction of teeth in their previous dental visit (44.3%). The major reason cited for not visiting a dentist was the presence of dental problem that was not severe enough to go to a dentist (43.1%).

Conclusion: Majorityof the people were “problem-oriented visitors” rather than “prevention oriented visitors.” (Eur J Dent 2012;6:422-427)

Key words

Dental services - utilization - barriers - dental college hospital - India
 

  • References

  • 1 Petersen PE. Global policy for improvement of oral health in the 21st century -implications to oral health research of World Health Assembly 2007, World Health Organization. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2009;37:1-8.
  • 2 Cohen LA, Bonito AJ, Eicheldinger C, Manski RJ, Masek MD, Edwards RR et al. Behavioral and socioeconomic correlates of dental problem experience and patterns of health care-seeking. J Am Dent Assoc 2011;142:137-149.
  • 3 Arora SA, Jayna A, Sharma A and Atri M. Socio-demographic factors influencing preventive dental behaviors in an adult dentate population: a questionnaire based study. Indian J of Dental Advancements 2011;3:483-491.
  • 4 Al-Shammari KF, Al-Ansari JM, Al-Khabbaz AK and Honkala S. Barriers to seeking preventive dental care by Kuwaiti adults. Med Princ Pract 2007;16:413-419.
  • 5 Pedersen PH, Vigild M, Nitschke I and Berkey DB. Dental care for aging populations in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, United Kingdom and Germany. J Dent Educ 2005;69:987-997.
  • 6 Stewart DC, Ortega AN, Dausey D and Rosenheck R. Oral health and use of dental services among Hispanics. J Public Health Dent 2002;62:84-91.
  • 7 Formicola AJ, Stavisky J and Lewy R. Cultural competency: dentistry and medicine learning from one another. J Dent Educ 2003;67:869-875.
  • 8 Bachrach CA and Abeles RP. Social science and health research: growth at the National Institutes of Health. Am J Pub Health 2004;94:22-28.
  • 9 Atchison KA and Dubin LF. Understanding health behavior and perceptions. Dent Clin North Am 2003;47:21-39.
  • 10 Poudyal S, Rao A, Shenoy R and Priya H. Utilization of dental services in a field practice area in Mangalore, Karnataka. Indian J Community Med 2010;35:424-425.
  • 11 Cohen LK. Converting unmet need for care to effective demand. Int Dent J 1987;37:114-116.
  • 12 Manski RJ and Magder LS. Demographic and socioeconomic predictors of dental care utilization. J Am Dent Assoc 1998;46:432-439.
  • 13 Ekanayake L and Mendis R. Self-reported use of dental services among employed adults in Sri Lanka. Int Dent J 2002;19:151-156.
  • 14 Jaafar N, Jalalludin RL, Razak IA and Esa R. Investigation of delay in utilization of government dental services in Malaysia. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 1992;20:144-147.
  • 15 Kuthy RA, Odom JG, Salsberry PJ, Nickel JL and Polivka BJ. Dental utilization by low-income mothers. J Public Health Dent 1998;58:44-50.
  • 16 Heaton LJ, Smith TA and Raybould TP. Factors influencing use of dental services in rural and urban communities: considerations for practitioners in underserved areas. J Dent Educ 2004;68:1081-1089.
  • 17 Kiyak HA. Reducing barriers to older persons’ use of dental services. Int Dent J 1989;39:95-102.
  • 18 Kiyak HA and Reichmuth M. Barriers to and enablers of older adults’ use of dental services. J Dent Educ 2005;69:975-986.