Attitudes to dental health and care among 20 to 25-year-old Swedes: results from a questionnaire

Abstract

During the last 3 decades, large resources have been allocated through the organized dental care system for the improvement of dental health among children and teenagers in Sweden. The aim of this study was to describe attitudes related to dental health and dental care among 20 to 25-year-old Swedes. A random sample of 650 individuals was drawn from the database of the National Social Insurance Board of Sweden. A postal questionnaire comprising 70 questions was delivered to the subjects and the response rate was 78%. A high proportion of the respondents considered themselves to have a high need for dental care. They had a strong conception of being able to influence their own dental health. Quite a few were concerned about their dental health. A high proportion indicated that they were satisfied with their dental function, but fewer individuals were satisfied with the appearance of their teeth. The respondents also reported good reception by their dentists, although opinions differed between the sexes. Women reported a significantly higher degree of discomfort and unease than men. Most respondents had adopted good oral hygiene habits but dental floss was rarely used. The majority of subjects indicated that they attended dental examinations on an annual basis. There is a need for further investigation into patients' attitudes to dental health and dental care. It is important to understand the significance patients attach to different concepts in the dental treatment. This would enhance our understanding of how the concept of felt need is expressed and transformed into demand for care.