Reasons Preventing or Delaying Dental Visits in Taibah University Students
Norah S. Alkhalifa
College of Dentistry, Taibah University, KSA.
Dalia H. Zahran *
College of Dentistry, Taibah University, KSA and Faculty of Dentistry, Tanta University, Egypt.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
In order to maintain good oral health and prevent dental problems, regular dental visits are highly recommended. Previous studies have reported reasons preventing or delaying dental visits such as fear of dentist, cost and lack of time. The aims of the study were to asses and identify the obstacles that prevent or delay dental visits among the students of Taibah University in Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah, Saudi Arabia. It is an analytical cross sectional study where an online questionnaire was distributed to the students of Taibah University. A total of completed 416 questionnaires were used in analysis. The frequency of dental visit was less than 1 every two years with no significant gender difference. Lack of time and cost were reported to be the most common causes that prevented visiting the dental clinic in males and females. While males reported no importance to visit the dentist if there is no pain as the second most common reason. The less commonly reported reasons were the lack of transportation to visit the dentist and I am medically compromised/disable. Lack of transportation was recorded only by females as a barrier preventing dental visit.
Keywords: Dental visits, university students, Saudi Arabia.