Does perceived risk of oral problems influence the use of dental services in university entrants?

OBJECTIVE

To assess if the self-perceived risk of oral problems is related to reported dental service usage in university entrants.

DESIGN

Self-completed questionnaire.

SAMPLE: 1,180 university entrants with an average age of 19.1 years. Fifty-six per cent of the sample were female, 44% males; 16% were medical undergraduates, 27% arts students, and 52% science undergraduates.

RESULTS

Females rated their own dental health more positively than males. Overall, the perceived risk of future problems was low. Seventy-five per cent of graduates reported attending dentists on a regular basis. Females were more likely to attend dentists regularly. Those who reported attending on a regular basis rated their dental health higher than those reporting other dental attendance patterns. There was no significant difference between those who reported a regular attendance service pattern and their perceived likelihood of requiring a filling or getting gum disease within the next five years.

CONCLUSION

Differences in reported dental services usage were related to the perceived benefits of dental check-ups but not to the risk of future problems.