Community Dental Health

cover art

Cover Date:
March 2011
Print ISSN:
0265 539X
Vol:
28
Issue:
1

Health-related lifestyle behaviours, socio-demographic characteristics and use of dental health services in Greek adults.

Objective. To investigate the association between certain socio-demographic characteristics, health-related lifestyle behaviors and the use of dental services in Greek adult population. Basic research design. A total of 1,005 adults from all the geographical areas of Greece were randomly selected and interviewed. Gender, age, place of residence, marital and socioeconomic status, educational level, obesity, smoking, physical inactivity, adherence to Mediterranean diet were recorded and associated with the use of dental services. Results. Almost one half of the participants (47%) visited a dentist during the past 12 months. Only 31.7% of the visits were for a regular dental check up. Subjects belonging to high socioeconomic status were 1.86 times more likely to visit a dentist in the past 12 months, while those aged more than 56 years and with low educational level were less likely to visit a dentist in the past 12 months with odds ratios equal to 0.63 and 0.73, respectively. Physically inactive (OR=0.59; 95% CI: 0.38-0.93) and obese subjects (OR=0.48; 95% CI: 0.24-0.97) were less likely to visit the dentist for a regular dental check up. Additionally, high socioeconomic status and healthier diet were associated with greater likelihood for visiting the dentist for a regular dental check up. Conclusions.Socio-demographic factors including age, education and social status are strong determinants of dental health services utilization in Greece. In addition, health-related lifestyle behaviors and conditions such as healthy diet, physical activity and obesity might be good predictors of regular check up or symptomatic dental visits.

Key words: Dental utilization, Greek adults, lifestyle behaviors, Mediterranean diet, obesity, physical activity, socio-demographic factors

Article Price
£15.00
Institution Article Price
£
Page Start
47
Page End
52
Authors
H. Koletsi-Kounari, C. Tzavara, Y. Tountas

Articles from this issue

  • Title
  • Pg. Start
  • Pg. End

  1. 0dz
  2. 0
  3. 0

  1. Correlation between oral health perception and clinical factors in a Brazilian community
  2. 0
  3. 0

  1. 1dz
  2. 1
  3. 1

  1. 1dz
  2. 1
  3. 1

  1. Editorial
  2. 3
  3. 3

  1. Acknowledgement of Referees
  2. 4
  3. 4

  1. The caries experience of 5 year-old children in Scotland, Wales and England in 2007-2008 and the impact of consent arrangements. Reports of co-ordinated surveys using BASCD criteria
  2. 5
  3. 11

  1. The dilemma of selecting suitable proximal carious lesions in primary molars for restoration using ART technique.
  2. 12
  3. 16

  1. Using laser fluorescence (DIAGNOdent) in surveys for the detection of noncavitated occlusal dentine caries
  2. 17
  3. 21

  1. The prevalence of and risk factors for non-carious cervical lesions in adults in Hubei Province, China
  2. 22
  3. 28

  1. Pediatrician-recommended use of sports drinks and dental caries in 3-year-old children
  2. 29
  3. 33

  1. Estimating the potential impact on dental caries in children of fluoridating a UK city
  2. 34
  3. 39

  1. Community water fluoridation support and opposition in Australia
  2. 40
  3. 46

  1. Health-related lifestyle behaviours, socio-demographic characteristics and use of dental health services in Greek adults.
  2. 47
  3. 52

  1. Non-biological factors associated with tooth retention in Irish adults
  2. 53
  3. 59

  1. Short Communication - Actinic Cheilitis among agricultural workers in Campinas, Brazi
  2. 60
  3. 63

  1. Periodontal health and treatment needs among hospitalized chronic psychiatric patients in Istanbul, Turkey
  2. 69
  3. 74

  1. Oral hygiene and gingival health in Flemish pre-school children
  2. 75
  3. 81

  1. Comparison of the COHIP and OHIP- 14 as measures of the oral health-related quality of life of adolescents
  2. 82
  3. 88

  1. Assessment and comparison of periodontal status among young smokers and nonsmokers of Bangalore, India - a cross sectional study.
  2. 89
  3. 94

  1. Smoking and drinking habits and attitudes to smoking cessation counselling among Tanzanian dental students
  2. 95
  3. 98

  1. The success of fissure sealants placed by dentists and dental care professionals
  2. 99
  3. 103

  1. Traumatic dental injuries to primary incisors and the terminal or occlusal plane relationship in Indian preschool children
  2. 104
  3. 106

  1. Retrospective evaluation of the referral pattern to an oral medicine unit in Ireland
  2. 107
  3. 110

  1. Factors associated with Japanese dentists encouraging patients to use dental floss
  2. 111
  3. 115

  1. Teaching dental public health to undergraduates using community profiles and patient case studies
  2. 116
  3. 120