title: Attitudes to and experience of dental care among 50-year-olds in two Swedish counties.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate attitudes to and experiences of dental care in a population, born 1942. The following items were studied: opinions of general and oral health, attitudes to and experiences of dental care, dental care habits, experiences of latest visit to a dentist, tobacco habits and use of various dental hygiene articles. A cross-sectional mail questionnaire was sent in 1992 to all 50-year-olds in two Swedish counties, Orebro and Ostergotland, totally 8888 persons; the response rate was 71%. Of the population 89%, indicated good health. Satisfaction with dental care was high, 94%. 26% stated attendance to a dentist twice or more per year, and 64% at least once a year. As to expenses, 78% paid less than 1000 SEK the last year. Concerning the latest visit, 38% reported painless treatment, 37% no inconvenience, and 55% good care. The duration of the latest visit included on an average 27 min in travel time, 7 min in waiting time and 27 min in treatment time. Information about oral hygiene was given to 29% and about cost for treatment to 47% of the interviewed. There were 28% daily smokers. Snuff was daily used by 10% of the males. Toothbrushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste seemed to be the standard oral hygiene procedure and was reported by 80% of the respondents.
authors.affiliation: Community Dental Health Unit, Orebro County Council, Sweden.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Unell
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Söderfeldt
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Halling
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Birkhed
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003729:Dental Care / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015438:Health Behavior; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010947:Plants, Toxic; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014030:Tobacco, Smokeless; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014100:Toothpastes / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D014100:Toothpastes; D005459:Fluorides