EXPLORING THE DENTAL HEALTH BELIEFS AND PRACTICES OF COLLEGE STUDENTS IN RELATION TO SCALING AND ROUTINE DENTAL CHECK-UPS AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS IN DISTRICT MANSEHRA KPK

Abstract

Background: Maintaining good oral hygiene practice and receiving routine dental check -up are crucial for preventingdental diseases. Dental scaling is a common dental procedure that involves removing the calculus and other debris fromthe teeth.Objective: This study aimed to explore the dental health beliefs and practices of college students in District Mansehraregarding scaling and routine dental checkups and identify the sociodemographic factors that influence dental healthbehaviors.Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 200 college students including females and males inDistrict Mansehra, and data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics is used toanalyze the data through SPSS .Result: Only 37% of college students adhere to regular dental checkups every six months, and a mere 16.5%express a positive attitude towards dental scaling. Notably, there are no statistically significant differences in dentalcheck-up rates between genders (P = 0.210), housing arrangements (own vs. rented, P = 0.494), or education levels(P = 0.598). Similarly, there is no significant variance in attitudes towards scaling based on gender (P = 0.116),urban/rural residence (P = 0.459), housing status (P = 0.531), or education level (P = 0.295). Overall, the studyunderscores the unsatisfactory dental care habits among college students and suggests a widespread negative perceptionof routine dental check-ups and scaling.Conclusion: The findings of the study provide valuable insights into the oral health needs of this population andinform the development of culturally appropriate oral health promotion programs.Keywords: Dental Health beliefs and Practice, Routine Dental Check-up, Sociodemographic factors.