Oral health behaviour and self-perceived oral health in adult population in Istria area, Croatia

Aim: Achievement and maintenance of oral health relies upon the education and motivation of dental patients. The purpose of this study was to assess the oral health behaviour, self-assessed oral health and motivation among the adult population in Istria area, Croatia. Material and Methods: A total of 200 randomly chosen subjects scheduled for a dental appointment at private practice took part in this study. Subjects completed the self-administered questionnaire comprising of 5 following categories: self-rated oral health, tooth brushing habits, food habits, use of oral hygiene aids and dental status. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics in addition to chi square tests to evaluate the association between gender and dental status and t-test for independent samples. Results: Results indicate good oral hygiene habits – a total of 87.5% of examinees brush their teeth twice daily or more often. Use of oral hygiene aids is not as frequent – 45% of subjects use mouthwash products, while 58% of them use dental floss irregularly. Less than half of all examinees (42%) evaluated their oral health as satisfying, yet 92% of them agree their oral health could be improved. This study also showed discouraging results in terms of inadequate education on the importance of supragingival scaling as a professional procedure in preservation of oral health. Conclusion: Oral health education and consequently patients’ oral health habits should be improved. Despite patient motivation, excellent oral health standards cannot be accomplished without the support of a national dental program and consistent patient education.