title: Utilization of Dental Services in Public Health Center: Dental Attendance, Awareness and Felt Needs.
abstract: In rural India, dental diseases occur due to many factors, which includes inadequate or improper use of fluoride and a lack of knowledge regarding oral health and oral hygiene, which prevent proper screening and dental care of oral diseases. The objective of the study was to evaluate the dental attendance, awareness and utilization of dental services in public health center.
  
  
  
  A cross-sectional study was conducted among 251 study subjects who were visiting dental outpatient department (OPD) of public health centre (PHC), Guda Bishnoi, and Jodhpur using a pretested proforma from month of July 2014 to October 2014. A pretested questionnaire was used to collect the data regarding socioeconomic status and demographic factors affecting the utilization of dental services. Pearson's Chi-square test and step-wise logistic regression were applied for the analysis.
  
  
  
  Statistically significant results were found in relation to age, educational status, socioeconomic status and gender with dental attendance, dental awareness and felt needs. p-value <0.05 was kept as statistically significant.
  
  
  
  The services provided in public health center should be based on the felt need of the population to increase attendance as well as utilization of dental services, thereby increasing the oral health status of the population.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Student, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Vyas Dental College and Hospital, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India, Phone: 09950837778, e-mail: ppewa1988@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Preksha
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pewa
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Vyas Dental College and Hospital, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: Bharath K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Garla
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Vyas Dental College and Hospital, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: Rushabh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dagli
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Vyas Dental College and Hospital, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: Geetika Arora
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Bhateja
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Vyas Dental College and Hospital, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: Jitendra
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Solanki
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004522:Educational Status; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D009909:Oral Health; D011634:Public Health; D012424:Rural Population
keywords: Dental services; Healthcare; Public health center; Utilization