Dental knowledge and dental service utilization: A 2-year follow-up study

To investigate associations of dental knowledge with dental service utilization over 2 years in South Australians aged 45-54 years.

In 2004-2005, a random sample of 2469 adults aged 45-54 years from Adelaide, South Australia, who were selected from the Australian electoral roll was surveyed. The outcome variables were the numbers of visits and dental services received over 2 years. Data were analysed using log-binomial and Poisson regression. Statistical significance was determined at P < .05.

The response rates were 43.8% in the study group (n = 879) and 50.7% in the comparison group (n = 107). Oral examinations were conducted on 709 persons (81% of study group participants). Dental services data were collected from approximately 60% of participants at the end of years 1 and 2. After adjusting for sex, education, health card status, toothbrushing and inadequate dentition, higher caries knowledge and periodontal knowledge scores were associated with higher percentages of persons making dental visits (prevalence ratio, 95% CI: 1.2, 1.1-1.3 and 1.1, 1.0-1.3), and lower rates of extraction (rate ratio, 95% CI: 0.2, 0.1-0.4 and 0.4, 0.3-0.7) and endodontic services (0.5, 0.3-0.9 and 0.5, 0.3-0.7). Higher caries knowledge was associated with lower rates of fillings (0.8, 0.7-0.9) and denture services (0.1, 0.0-0.6), while higher periodontal knowledge was associated with higher numbers of visits (1.3, 1.2-1.5), and prophylaxis services (1.4, 1.1-1.8) and crowns (1.7, 1.1-2.5).

South Australians aged 45-54 years with higher dental knowledge had lower rates of invasive treatment over 2 years. These findings warrant policy initiatives that highlight the importance of dental knowledge in improving oral health.