Healthcare Services Use Among Dental Patients

Abstract

Abstract Regular medical attendance proved to have a positive impact on health, therefore the aim of the study is to detect the reasons and frequency for health care use among a group of 110 urban dental patients aged between 33 and 75 years, 50% males. The subjects completed an anonymous questionnaire with items related to their medical visits patterns: reason (treatment/control and emergency) and frequency of healthcare services use; self-assessed oral and general health and socio-demographic data. Most of the patients were adults (81.8%) and with more than 12 years of study (50%). In terms of reason for attending the dental office, 72% visited the dentist for emergency reasons, mainly men, elderly, patients with low level of education, and those who self-rated their oral health as satisfying or poor. Regarding medical visits, 54% from all patients attended healthcare for emergency reasons, regardless age, gender, education level and self-perceived general health. The results showed that worse healthcare services use is associated with low education level and gender, especially men visited the dentist when there is pain only. There is need to increase the number of individuals who use regular health care, for prevention and early detection of diseases.