The Relationship Between Dental Caries Status and Oral Health Attitudes and Behavior in Young Israeli Adults

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiologic relationship between oral health attitudes and behavior as measured by the Hiroshima University-Dental Behavioral Inventory (HU-DBI) and dental caries status using the DMF in a sample of young Israeli adults. The HU-DBI (in Hebrew) was used to survey 123 young Israeli army recruits (eighteen and nineteen years old). All participants submitted to a clinical and radiographic dental examination. Dental caries status was evaluated using the World Health Organization (WHO) caries diagnostic criteria for decayed, missing, and filled teeth and surfaces (DMFT and DMFS, respectively). Data were statistically analyzed. DMFT and DMFS scores, which measure dental disease, ranged from 0 to 24 (average 6.77) and from 0 to 48 (average 10.95), respectively. There were sixteen (13 percent) caries free (DMF=0) participants. When relating the different DMF values to the HU-DBI responses, a statistically significant relation was found between seven items and DMF scores or their components and indices. The HU-DBI score ranged from 2 to 9 (mean 5.8, SD=1.5). Low DS and DT values significantly correlated with a high total HU-DBI score (p<0.05); that is, subjects with low levels of dental disease had more positive oral health attitudes and behavior. In young Israeli adults, dental disease, as measured by DMF scores or their components, were related to HU-DBI, which demonstrate the relationship of dental caries status with oral health behavior. Special emphasis should be given to improving patients' oral health attitudes and behaviors by providing patient education during treatment.