title: Dental attendance, perceptions of cost and self-care of school year 12 and 13 students: A focus on Southland, New Zealand.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Adolescents and emerging adults can provide dentists with many challenges. Little information is available on their perceptions of dental costs once they turn 18 and dentistry is no longer State-funded. The aim of this study was to explore the use of dental care by Southland students in years 12 and 13, their perceptions of the cost of four common dental procedures, self-related oral health and dental self-care habits, time off school related to dental problems, and knowledge and views regarding fluoride.
  
  
  METHODS
  After ethical approval, a 26-question survey was conducted of all Southland students in years 12 and 13. Data were statistically analysed in SPSS version 20 with the alpha value set at 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The participation rate was 49.6%. Regular attendance for examinations was reported by 77.5% with non-attendance mainly related to attitudes around lack of importance or necessity. Reported dental attendance varied according to gender, ethnicity and decile rating of school attended. Although some were accurate in their estimations of dental costs, the standard deviation for all procedures was large. The majority thought that costs put people off going to the dentist. While 74.8% brushed their teeth at least twice daily, only 26.6% flossed regularly. Knowledge regarding fluoride was lacking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It may be advantageous to include education regarding costs of dental care with patients of this age. This may motivate them to improve their self-care and ensure that their oral health is of a high standard before their dental needs are no longer State-funded.
authors.forename: Colleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: Ian Kenneth
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Densie
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Morgan
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000293:Adolescent; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003442:Crowns / Q000191:economics; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D003729:Dental Care / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology*; D003742:Dental Devices, Home Care; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000191:economics; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005457:Fluoridation / Q000523:psychology; D005459:Fluorides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017048:Health Care Costs; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D009909:Oral Health; D012390:Root Canal Therapy / Q000191:economics; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D005459:Fluorides