Dental knowledge and reasons for non-utilization of dental services among final year undergraduates in a University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Background: Oral systemic interactions have been established by scientific studies through the common risk factor and inflammatory pathways. Since the health practitioners are the ones that those with oral diseases first present to, there is the need for them to be dentally aware so they can help patients get holistic care and thus improve their quality of life.

Methodology: One hundred and eighty-five participants in final year in health-related professions (Dentistry, Pharmacy, Medicine and surgery and Nursing) were recruited. Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data on dental knowledge and service utilization. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) version 25.

Results: Seventy percent participants in Dentistry and Medicine & Surgery knew a dentist should be visited twice yearly. One third of participants in Pharmacy said the dentist should only be visited when there is a toothache (p=0.002). One third of participants from Medicine & Surgery have not heard of dental caries. Participants from Pharmacy had the least knowledge about dental caries, calculus and scaling and polishing (p=<0.001). Half of participants from Medicine & Surgery and Pharmacy did not know that patients with facial swelling should be sent to the dentists for management (p=0.001). Four-fifth of participants from Pharmacy do not know what halitosis is (p= <0.0001). 61.6% of the study population had never had a dental visit and only 14.5% reported to have had regular dental visits.

Conclusion: Dental awareness is slightly improved among the students but there is still the need translate knowledge to practice.