Oral Health Practices and Status of Workers in a Tertiary Institution Attending an Oral Health Outreach Programme in Ibadan Nigeria

Abstract

Objective: To assess the oral health practices and status of workers attending an oral health outreach programme in a tertiary institution, in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among attendees of an oral-health outreach programme organized for the administrative staffs of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan. Information on socio-demography, oral-health practices and self-perceived oral-health states were obtained using a self-administered questionnaire. Oralhygiene status was assessed using Oral Hygiene Index (OHI), treatment-need assessed using the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Need (CPITN) and caries level determined using WHO guidelines. Data were analyzed and presented as tables and figures.

Results: Mean age of study participants was 41.4(±8.1) years, Male: Female ratio was 2:3. Thirty (38.0%) participants had ever visited the dentist, 18(60%) of whom did so >5 years prior to data collection. Reasons for dental visit included: pain relief in 22(73%) cases, scaling and polishing in 7(22%), and orthodontic reason in 1(5%) case. All participants used toothbrush for mouth cleaning, and 4(5.1%) participants combined it with chewing-sticks. Mouth cleaning frequency were: “once daily” in 57(72.1%) of them, “twice daily” in 18(22.8%) and “occasionally” in 4(5.1%) of participants. Interdental teeth cleaning materials included: wooden toothpick 58(73.4%), plastic toothpick 10(12.6%), dental-floss 8(10.1%), broomstick 5(6.3%) and pins 3(3.7%). Fifty (63.3%) respondents perceived their oralhealth status as "good", 21(26.6%) as "average", and 8(10.1%) were "not sure". Oral examination revealed poor oral hygiene in 28(35.4%), moderate/severe gingivitis in 24(30.4%) and caries in 8(10.1%) cases. Treatment needs included: professional cleaning in 64(81.0%) and oral-hygiene instructions and motivations in all participants.

Conclusion: Most participants visited dental clinics for pain, perceived their oral health to be good and required professional dental treatment.

Keywords: Oral health, practices, status, tertiary, workers, attending, dental outreach, Ibadan