[Causes of late odontostomatologic consultations in Ivory Coast]

In Africa, particularly in Ivory-Coast, dental patients present late with life threatening complications. The authors designed a questionnaire to be filled by each patient who presented with serious dental pathology whose only remedy was tooth extraction. Causes of late consultation including financial deprivation, fear of dentist, self medication are some of the factors identified by the authors as the most frequent factors. Dental health education and a comprehensive, social policy are advanced as possible ways of prevention.