Factors governing the choice of dentifrices by patients attending the Dental Centre, Lagos University Teaching Hospital.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate what influences the choice of dentifrice used by patients attending a dental clinic.


METHODS
Self-administered questionnaire on patients attending oral diagnosis clinic. Data analyzed for descriptIve statistics using EPI- info 2004 software.


RESULTS
Two hundred and three patients comprising of 105 (51.7%) females and 98 (48.3%) males, were involved in this study. Toothpaste with toothbrush was the most common form of oral hygiene practice (90.6%). Cost of the dentifrice (32.5%), the taste of the dentifrice (51.7%), the presence of fluoride (53.7%), availability of the dentifrice (54.7%) and the recommendation of a dental health professional (32.5%) were some of the factors governing choice.


CONCLUSIONS
The choice of dentifrices by patients is governed by factors other than the efficacy of the dentifrice and dental education is important to reverse this trend.
Adegbulugbe
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Department of Restorative Dentistry, School of Dental Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria.
Adegbulugbe
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003740:Dental Clinics; D003802:Dentifrices / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards / Q000600:supply & distribution; D005260:Female; D006267:Health Education, Dental; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009549:Nigeria; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013649:Taste
D003802:Dentifrices