Sociodemographic Status of Patients Seeking Routine Scaling and Polishing in a Resource Challenged Environment

To assess the sociodemographic profile of patients seeking routine scaling and polishing in a resource challenged setting in Ibadan, Nigeria Study design: A retrospective review of dental records of patients presenting for scaling and polishing at the Periodontology Clinic of a tertiary hospital in Ibadan, Nigeria over a period of one year was done. Two groups were identified; those seeking routine scaling and polishing and those referred as a result of periodontal disease or from other clinics. The age, gender, religion, marital status and socioeconomic status were obtained from the records of each patient. Analysis was done using SPSS version 16. The level of statistical significance was set at 5%.

A total of 295 patients with a mean age of 42.5 (±17.7) years had scaling and polishing done over the period; 100 (33.9%) came routinely and 195 (66.1%) were referred. There were 151 (51.2%) males and 144 (48.8%) females. The majority (83.2%) were Christians. Their socioeconomic class ranged from skilled workers (21.4%), through unskilled workers (22.7%) to dependants (55.9%). A higher proportion of Christians than Muslims presented routinely for the procedure, 35.8% vs. 20.4% (p = 0.037). The proportion of skilled workers, unskilled workers and dependants who came for routine scaling and polishing were 46.0%, 25.4% and 32.7% respectively (p = 0.038). Socioeconomic status was found, on multivariate analysis, to significantly predict seeking for routine scaling and polishing.

Socioeconomic status is a determinant of seeking for routine scaling and polishing in a resource poor country.