title: Health-related lifestyle behaviours, socio-demographic characteristics and use of dental health services in Greek adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the association between certain socio-demographic characteristics, health-related lifestyle behaviors and the use of dental services in Greek adult population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1,005 adults from all the geographical areas of Greece were randomly selected and interviewed. Gender, age, place of residence, marital and socioeconomic status, educational level, obesity, smoking, physical inactivity, adherence to Mediterranean diet were recorded and associated with the use of dental services.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Almost one half of the participants (47%) visited a dentist during the past 12 months. Only 31.7% of the visits were for a regular dental check up. Subjects belonging to high socioeconomic status were 1.86 times more likely to visit a dentist in the past 12 months, while those aged more than 56 years and with low educational level were less likely to visit a dentist in the past 12 months with odds ratios equal to 0.63 and 0.73, respectively. Physically inactive (OR = 0.59; 95% CI: 0.38-0.93) and obese subjects (OR = 0.48; 95% CI: 0.24-0.97) were less likely to visit the dentist for a regular dental check up. Additionally, high socioeconomic status and healthier diet were associated with greater likelihood for visiting the dentist for a regular dental check up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Socio-demographic factors including age, education and social status are strong determinants of dental health services utilization in Greece. In addition, health-related lifestyle behaviors and conditions such as healthy diet, physical activity and obesity might be good predictors of regular check up or symptomatic dental visits.
authors.affiliation: University of Athens, Dental School, Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, 2 Thivon St. 115 27 Athens, Greece. hkounari@dent.uoa.gr
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koletsi-Kounari
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tzavara
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tountas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003752:Dental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult