Awareness of the Causes and Prevention of Dental Caries among Dental Outpatients in Central Hospital Benin City, Nigeria

Abstract

Objective: To determine the awareness of the causes and prevention of dental caries among dental outpatients in Central Hospital, Benin City. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study carried out in Dental Centre of Central Hospital, Benin City. A total of 194 participants (18 years and above) attending the clinic during the four weeks study period participated in the study. An informed consent was obtained from the respondents following which a questionnaire was administered by a research assistant. Data was collected on their socio-demographic characteristics, awareness of dental caries and their causes and prevention.

Results: A total of 166 (85.6%) of the respondents reported awareness of dental caries. Those that were aware, their major (77.2%) source of information was human (relatives, friends and colleagues and so on). The majority (60.8%) thought that worm was the cause of dental caries and only 38.6% knew the actual cause of dental caries. The respondents that were aware of prevention of dental caries were 83.1% and 79.3% knew the correct method of preventing it.

Conclusion: The awareness about dental caries and its prevention was high but the awareness about the actual cause is low as many of the respondents still believed in the ancient theory that dental caries is caused by tooth worm.