Oral Healthcare Behaviors of Dental and Non-dental Turkish Students: A Comparative Study

Melike Camgoz
2021 International Journal of Experimental Dental Science  
Aim and objective: Oral health education, including tooth brushing, during childhood, is important since this affects individuals' behaviors as adults. The purpose of this investigation was to assess the self-reported oral health behaviors of dental and non-dental/medical university students in Ankara, Turkey, by utilizing the Hiroshima University Dental Behavior Inventory (HU-DBI). Materials and methods: The study population consisted of 326 students from the faculty of dentistry and 331
more » ... ts from non-dental faculties. All students were at various stages of education and were surveyed using the HU-DBI. The concise prediction about oral health behavior was studied from the replies to the twelve statements. To compare the total HU-DBI score between groups, an independent sample t-test was conducted. Results: Significant differences were detected among the student groups. The mean HU-DBI point of dental school students was significantly higher than non-dental students. Less dental students stated gingival bleeding, sticky deposits, being uncomfortable with the color of gums, and postponing going to a dentist if they do not have a toothache. Conclusion: The results we obtained marked that dental students have better dental attitudes than non-dental/medical students. This may be explained by dental students' receiving dental curriculum and clinical training. Clinical significance: Comprehensive national programs aiming to teach oral healthcare, to support individuals' oral hygiene applications, and to generalize preventive oral health information should be conducted starting from early childhood.
doi:10.5005/jp-journals-10029-1222 fatcat:qraant3jxjdi7mkevham2dsixy