Dental survey: patient attitudes in Jordan.

A questionnaire was used to assess the attitude of family members in Jordan to the state of their teeth, their personal oral hygiene and their acceptance of dental care. The questions were formulated to provide information without the need for dental examination. In industrial societies there is evidence of a reduction in the rate of dental decay whereas in countries such as Jordan the reverse is true. Consideration of this trend, in combination with the results of this survey, provides a strong indication that instruction in oral hygiene must be given together with increased facilities for treatment.