Effects of oral health behaviors and socioeconomic factors on a group of Turkish adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of socioeconomic factors and oral health behaviors on adolescents in Turkey.


METHODS
Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire. The sample consisted of 582 randomly selected adolescents, 309 boys and 273 girls, who presented over a 3-month period with various complaints to the Hacettepe University Medical Faculty Adolescent Clinic.


RESULTS
Halitosis complaints were higher in the 11-, 12-, and 13-year-old groups than in other age groups (P < .05). When the sex factor was examined, prevalence of dental fear was found to be higher among girls, while irregular toothbrushing was seen more among boys. In parallel to the increase in the education levels of the parents, an increase was seen in the regular dental visits by the adolescents (P < .05). As the socioeconomic status of the family increased, frequency of dental visits, rate of dental floss usage, and number of teeth with restorations increased. In parallel with the dental visit increase, the rate of restored teeth increased. Of those who did not have regular dental visits because of financial difficulties, however, the rate of teeth with restorations was low.


CONCLUSIONS
A strong correlation exists between the oral health behaviors, socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors, and the oral health status of Turkish adolescents.
Department of Oral Diagnosis and Radiology, Hacettepe University, Faculty of Dentistry, Ankara, Turkey. aydank@hacettepe.edu.tr
Aydan
A
Kanli
Nuray Oksüz
NO
Kanbur
Sema
S
Dural
Orhan
O
Derman
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D004245:DMF Index; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003742:Dental Devices, Home Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000145:classification; D006209:Halitosis / Q000145:classification; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014421:Turkey