Conference abstract
Oral health status of a screened university population
Pan African Medical Journal - Conference Proceedings. 2022:13(14).03
Feb 2022.
doi: 10.11604/pamj-cp.2022.13.14.874
Archived on: 03 Feb 2022
Contact the corresponding author
Keywords: Oral health status, oral hygiene, screening, university population
Oral presentation
Oral health status of a screened university population
Nzube Ilochonwu1,&, Omoigberai Bashiru Braimoh1
1Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, College of Health Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
&Corresponding author
Introduction: it is reported that individuals with low access to oral healthcare services have greater rates of oral diseases. Screening will aid the reduction of disparities in access to effective therapeutic and preventive services. The aim of the study therefore was to evaluate the oral health and oral hygiene status of a screened university community.
Methods: the participants included 215 attendees of free oral screening at two campuses of the University of Port Harcourt. Data were collected through interviewer-administered questionnaire and oral examination using visual method only and sterile wooden spatula. Collected data was analysed with SPSS v20. Significance and associations between variables were tested and determined at 5% level of significance.
Results: of the total (215) participants, females 128 (59.5%) were significantly more than males 87 (40.5%), p = 0.006, and majority of the participants 164 (76.3%) were students. Older subjects significantly had poorer oral hygiene status (P < 0.001), however 161 (74.9%) participants had fair oral hygiene. Almost all the participants 214 (99.5%) used toothbrush and paste as tooth cleaning materials. Calculus, stains, gingivitis and halitosis were detected in 67.4%, 66.0%, 67.0% and 66.5% of participants respectively; calculus and stains were significantly spotted in older subjects (p = 0.030 and 0.001 respectively). The mean DMFT of the screened population was 0.86; no filled tooth was seen.
Conclusion: the oral health status of the screened population was fair; the mean DMFT of the population was low with unmet dental care needs. Regular oral screenings should be conducted to identify unmet needs and also motivate the individuals to seek oral care.
Oral health status of a screened university population
Nzube Ilochonwu1,&, Omoigberai Bashiru Braimoh1
1Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, College of Health Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
&Corresponding author
Introduction: it is reported that individuals with low access to oral healthcare services have greater rates of oral diseases. Screening will aid the reduction of disparities in access to effective therapeutic and preventive services. The aim of the study therefore was to evaluate the oral health and oral hygiene status of a screened university community.
Methods: the participants included 215 attendees of free oral screening at two campuses of the University of Port Harcourt. Data were collected through interviewer-administered questionnaire and oral examination using visual method only and sterile wooden spatula. Collected data was analysed with SPSS v20. Significance and associations between variables were tested and determined at 5% level of significance.
Results: of the total (215) participants, females 128 (59.5%) were significantly more than males 87 (40.5%), p = 0.006, and majority of the participants 164 (76.3%) were students. Older subjects significantly had poorer oral hygiene status (P < 0.001), however 161 (74.9%) participants had fair oral hygiene. Almost all the participants 214 (99.5%) used toothbrush and paste as tooth cleaning materials. Calculus, stains, gingivitis and halitosis were detected in 67.4%, 66.0%, 67.0% and 66.5% of participants respectively; calculus and stains were significantly spotted in older subjects (p = 0.030 and 0.001 respectively). The mean DMFT of the screened population was 0.86; no filled tooth was seen.
Conclusion: the oral health status of the screened population was fair; the mean DMFT of the population was low with unmet dental care needs. Regular oral screenings should be conducted to identify unmet needs and also motivate the individuals to seek oral care.
