Oral health behavior differences between dental students in graduate and doctoral programs

Year 2018, Volume: 52 Issue: 1, 6 - 11, 03.01.2018

Nuran Özyemişci Cebeci , Seçil Karakoca Nemli Senem Ünver

Abstract

DOI: 10.26650/eor.2018.80220

Purpose

This study aimed to compare oral health
behavior between dental students in graduate programs and those in doctoral
programs (PhD students) and determine the effects of parental education and
occupation on these behaviors.

Materials and Methods

A questionnaire on oral health behaviors
was distributed in a faculty of dentistry in Ankara, Turkey. A total of 629
questionnaires were distributed, and 528 dental graduate and 101 PhD students
responded. Parental education and occupation were also recorded, and data were
statistically analyzed.

Results

Statistically significant differences were
found between the two groups with respect to the frequency of replacing
toothbrush (p=0.001), use of electric toothbrush (p<0.001), frequency of
brushing (p<0.001), amount of water used to rinse mouth (p<0.001),
toothpaste selection criteria (p<0.001), use of dental floss (p<0.001),
amount of toothpaste used for brushing (p=0.018), frequency of professional
care (p<0.001), and sugar consumption (p<0.001). The PhD group showed
more favorable outcomes for these behaviors except for toothpaste selection.
Parental education and occupation were correlated with higher frequencies of
flossing and mouth rinsing.

Conclusion

The outcomes of this study show that the
self-reported quality of overall oral health behavior is more pronounced in PhD
students than in graduate students, with the exceptions of behaviors regarding
the duration of brushing, toothpaste selection criteria, and use of mouth
rinse. The current dental curriculum in the universities should be revisited
with respect to oral health attitudes. This study also implies that educational
and occupational status of parents had little effect on oral health behavior of
the students, including the use of dental floss and mouth rinse.

Keywords

Oral health, toothbrushing, education, professional, parents

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