Self-perceived need for dental care.

AIMS: The aim of this study is to evaluate the self-perceived need for dental care among medical professionals and general public. SETTING AND
DESIGN: (1) To determine the perceived oral health status. (2) To evaluate the results in understanding the perception of oral health. (3) To determine the patients attitude toward dentist. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study was carried out on 537 patients who came for their regular checkup and treatment. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The statistical analysis of this study was based on Chi-square test evaluation. The study was performed among in 537 participants. The participants included from age group of both <30 and >30. The study was made in the form of questionnaires enquiring how they would perceive their personal dental care and their attitude towards dentist.
RESULTS: Self-perceived questionnaires in evaluating general public in age group of <30 and >30 shows, that people in age group more than 30 has good oral hygiene maintenance, whereas attitude toward dentist and attending dental problems were more among group less than 30 of age.
CONCLUSIONS: I conclude that there must be more awareness created by public health dentist among people about various dental problems, their complications and the treatment needs. Hence, that people be aware of their dental problem at the small stage and get cured. By conducting varies Public Health Programs and camp they became very free to contact their dentist for their varies dental problems and people attitude about dentist and toward dentist completely changes.

The self-perceived need for dental care is influenced by self-evaluation of dental health and by service use.[1] Self-perceived need for dental care results oral health condition of an every individual.[2] The degree of deficiencies and dysfunctions shows the oral health condition, along with individual's perception and attitudes regarding their condition.[3] It completely reflects the impact that a disease has on individual.[4] Self-perceived need for dental care is based on the individual's oral health condition like number of decayed, missing and filled teeth; periodontal condition; and normative treatment needs.[5] Thus, self-perceived assessment data have neither been found as useful nor successful in the assessment of individual dental health status.[67]

Subjects and Methods

The study was conducted in from June 1 to July 30 in the Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry. Ethical clearance was taken from the board before starting the study. Before starting my main study pilot study was also conducted for 30 participants.

My main study totally consists of 542 participants. The 30 question were asked for both male and female aged from 18 and above who are willing for the study. The informed consent is also taken from the patient who had undergone the study.

Sampling method

Simple random sampling.

Study conducted

Cross-sectional study.

Inclusion criteria

Patients from age 18 and above were taken into consideration

Patients willing for the study were taken into consideration.

Exclusion criteria

Patient below 18 years was excluded

Patient who were physically challenged and mentally disabled were excluded.

Results

A total of 538 people (301 males and 237 females; 18–81 years of age) agreed to participate and responded to the questionnaires. Approximate time required for the participant to fill out the questionnaires ranged from 5 to 10 min. In this study were separated into two groups (<30 years and >30 years of age).

Perception of oral hygiene

In this perception of oral hygiene, the questions mostly given to evaluate their own self-perception of oral hygiene in which totally 78.1% says their oral hygiene is good and rest 21.9% has poor oral hygiene. In which 50.6% where of <30 years people and 27.5% where from >30 years. The most commonly acquired problem in this group of people where decayed teeth (39.2%), stains in teeth where about 18.2%, gum bleeding where of found in 15.5% of people and pain in 7.6% of people. The rest of the people had combined problem. The gum bleeding (<30 years = 15.2%; >30 years = 17.5%), pain (<30 years = 20.4%; >30 years = 25.3%), bad breath (<30 years = 12.3%; >30 years = 14.9%), poor chewing ability and sensitivity where found more in > 30 years of age group whereas decayed teeth (<30 years = 28.3%; >30 years = 27.5%) is more in <30 years of age group people.

Maintenance of oral hygiene status

In the maintenance of oral hygiene status is really good in <30 years of age group when compared >30 years of age group. Frequency of brushing teeth: Once daily (<30 years = 40%; >30 years = 33.8%) and twice daily (<30 years = 17.7%; >30 years = 8.6%), use of mouth wash (<30 years = 13.9%; >30 years = 4.1%), awareness of interdental aids (<30 years = 14.3%; >30 years = 1.7%), use of interdental aids (<30 years = 7.4%; >30 years = 0.7%), decay in already filled tooth is more in > 30 years (<30 years = 6.5%; >30 years = 7.4%).

Attitude towards dentist

The people attitude toward dentist for their dental problem seems to be less <30 years when compared with >30 years of age. Since for few problems like decayed teeth (<30 years = 23.2%; >30 years = 26.2%) visited dentist; missing teeth (<30 years = 13.4%; >30 years = 23.8%); gum bleeding (<30 years = 18%; >30 years = 11.2%) visit dentist; replacement of missing teeth (<30 years = 2.8%; >30 years = 7.6%); tooth pain (<30 years = 13%; >30 years = 10.4%) visit dentist and (<30 years = 10.2%; >30 years = 14.1%) take self-medication, bad breath problem (<30 years = 15.2%; >30 years = 17.5%), restorations (<30 years = 6.7%; >30 years = 2.2%), extractions (<30 years = 15.2%; >30 years = 23%).

Discussion

Self-perceived detrimental effects of tooth loss were considered high by patients at the time and after extraction. Esthetics and discomfort were mentioned as a major benefit and risk related to prosthodontics. Immediate replacement of extracted teeth was scarce and was mainly associated to anterior teeth and large edentulous spaces. Treatment demand was low, frequently due to financial restriction.

At the time of extraction self-perception of impacts ranged from 20.9% to 75.8% and a great part of patients expressed a desire for immediate reposition. The psychological effects of tooth loss and previous experiences of different degrees of edentulousness justify the extent of these frequencies. Most patients had previous tooth loss and had more than one tooth extracted.[7] found that almost half of patients (47%) expressed a desire for reposition at the time of extraction. Sociocultural characteristics and access to dental service may explain discrepancies in expressed desire for teeth reposition.

Gender and age can influence self-perception of impacts and prosthodontics need. As observed at the time and after tooth loss in the present study[8] found that women perceive greater impacts in oral health related quality of life measures than men. Likewise, intention for dental replacement was greater in older patients (>40 years) as observed at the time of extraction.[9]

An individual's perception of oral health measures the value attached to oral health and the likelihood of seeking oral care to achieve optimal oral health status. Pain and discomfort, due to toothache, were mainly perceived as the causes of impact.[10] The most common measure of utilization of dental services is the annual number of dental visits per person.[11] Studies involving the assessment of the utilization of service serve as an important tool for oral health policy decision-making.[12]

A survey on perceived oral health of adult population in a deprived district of Karachi showed that just about half of the participants perceived that they had dental problems which included aesthetic issue, pain, cavities and difficulty in chewing.[13] The reality of the situation revealed by the study was that the majority of the participants had lost many of their teeth, leaving them with only 20 teeth or less.[14] This implies that there is a gap between their perceived need and the actual need.

A previous Nigerian study has shown poor utilization of the available oral health services,[15] and most people, especially males, only access such services when in pain. Some studies have showed that men tend to visit the dentist more when they are in pain.[161718] The reasons for nonutilization range from not knowing that there is a need for such services to unsatisfactory previous dental visit to the fear of the dentist. The poor utilization is not limited to patients alone. It has been found that oral health caregivers may actually perceive the need for dental care, but will give a relatively low priority to receiving the needed dental care.[1819] Since the establishment and maintenance of good general and oral health is a priority, and a key factor in enabling adults to achieve overall well-being and improved quality of life, it is important to assess how individual rate their oral health status, their perceived dental need.