Attitudes to oral health, preventive practices and dental services in a Thai population

1500 subjects aged 15-18 and 35-44 years, providers of oral health care and village headmen from 6 north Thailand districts with different dental services were interviewed about their knowledge of and attitudes to oral health, preventive practices and oral health services. Current oral symptoms mentioned by the 1500 subjects included pain (20.7 per cent), holes in teeth (10.5 per cent), ulcer, lump or swelling (5.9 per cent), loose teeth (5.2 per cent), calculus (2.9 per cent) and bleeding gums (1.3 per cent). Those complaining of holes in teeth had a significantly higher mean number of DMFT (2.05) than those who had no current problem (0.60). There was a general lack of appreciation of periodontal disease as a clinical problem. 57.5 per cent of those with a current problem did nothing about it because of lack of time or because they did not know where to go. 98 per cent said they used a toothbrush and 75.1 per cent used it two or more times a day. 58 per cent said that oral disease was preventable. Virtually all methods mentioned referred to dental caries which was a minor problem in this age group. A significant number had received advice on oral health from primary health care workers. In two districts primary oral health care workers trained at the Intercountry Centre for Oral Health for two weeks to do superficial tooth scaling provided care for 110 subjects, 85-88 per cent of whom were satisfied with the care received. Village headmen were sceptical about preventing oral disease and wanted more frequent visits from mobile dental units. The dentist and dental nurses were unable to cope with the range of work required and wanted additional training. Sub-district health workers and primary oral health workers were frustrated by the limitations of their work and wanted additional training to do fillings and extractions.