Dental health service utilization by children seen at the University College Hospital-an update.

Asymptomatic hospital visits have been generally accepted as health behaviour that should be encouraged, although some factors have been identified as factors affecting compliance and attendance. A three years prospective study of the pattern of dental clinic attendance of children seen at the University college Hospital Ibadan was carried out between January 2001-December 2003. A total of 875 children comprising of 421 (48.1%) males and 454 (51.89%) females formed subjects for the study. Results showed that the modal age of presentation was 6-10yers. 88.8% of the children had symptomatic visits while 11.2% had asymptomatic visits and dental caries and its sequel were the frequently diagnosed symptoms. 67.8% of the symptomatic cases required extraction of their badly broken down teeth due to their late presentations at the clinic. Over 80% of the children with asymptomatic visits required only oral prophylaxis. In conclusion, an early age at presentation and asymptomatic visits are health behaviours that should be encouraged through regular dental health education to parents especially mothers.