Abstract:

Purpose: This study examined the impact of the frequent visit to the dentist in children of school age on the poor experience and oral health factors. Tools and Methods: This study was conducted on individuals of school age of 188 (14-16 years) who apply to the Faculty of Dental Medicine at Selçuk University. For each individual, the values of the DMFT (Dirty, Filled and Lost Teeth) index, plaque and gingival index were calculated. In the DMFT index assessment, the criteria of the World Health Organization (WHO) in the clinical examination, the radiographic assessment was also used by bitewing radiographers. Individuals were asked to fill in the survey form, which contains questions on gender, age, frequent visit to the dentist, oral care habits, parental education level and income level. After taking all the records, the individuals were divided into two groups, regular and irregular according to the frequency of the visit to the dentist. The Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis. Results: According to the results, the number of individuals who regularly visited a dentist was 47 while 141 were found to be in an irregular group. In the groups formed by the frequent visit to the dentist, there was a significant difference in the age of first visit to the dentist (p < 0.001), the average number of damaged (p < 0.001) and filled (p = 0.029) teeth, the plate index (p = 0.05), the frequency of toothbrushing (p = 0.04), and before bedbrushing (p = 0.03). On the other hand, there was no relationship between gender (p=0,308), missing dental average (p=0,421), DMFT average (p=0,183), gingival index (p=0,05), dental use (p=0,101) and gargar use (p=0,155), mother (p=0,084) and father (p=0,489) in terms of education and income level (p=0,768). Result: Regular dentist visits are considered to be of great importance for supporting children’s oral care and reducing the general risk of cramps.

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