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Reasons for First Dental Visit in Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Review
Khalid Aljohani1, Ali Alqarni2, Abdullah F Alshammari3
1Department of Oral Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Patient Preference and Adherence
|December 29, 2025
Summary
Most initial dental visits in Saudi Arabia are driven by pain and dental caries, not preventive care. Public health initiatives are needed to encourage routine dental check-ups and promote preventive oral health practices.
Area of Science:
- Oral Health Research
- Public Health Dentistry
- Systematic Review Methodology
Background:
- Reasons for First Dental Visit (RFV) reflect patients' urgent needs and significantly impact dental diagnosis and treatment.
- Addressing patient RFV is essential for satisfaction and high-quality oral healthcare delivery.
- Understanding RFV motivations is key to improving dental service utilization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the most common reasons for initial dental visits in Saudi Arabia (SA).
- To explore the underlying motivations behind seeking dental care in SA.
- To analyze the prevalence of symptom-driven versus preventive dental visit reasons.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature search was conducted across major databases (PubMed, EMBASE, OVID, Web of Science) and regional journals.
- PRISMA guidelines were followed for study selection and screening of eligible cross-sectional studies published between 2002 and June 2025.
- Data extraction and quality assessment using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist were performed by two independent reviewers.
Main Results:
- Ten cross-sectional studies were included, with varying risk of bias.
- Initial dental visits were predominantly symptom-driven, with pain/emergency (19.8-71.5%) and caries (17.9-45.2%) being the most frequent reasons.
- Preventive motives (check-ups, fluoride/cleaning) and other indications (trauma, extraction, malocclusion) were reported less frequently.
Conclusions:
- Dental care utilization in Saudi Arabia is primarily driven by urgent symptoms like pain and caries.
- Preventive and elective dental visit reasons remain underrepresented.
- Enhanced public health and clinical strategies are crucial to promote early, routine dental attendance and shift focus towards preventive oral healthcare.
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