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
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Publikationsverlauf

Publikationsdatum:
15. Oktober 2019 (online)

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)

 
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