Dental survey: patient attitudes in Oman

A questionnaire was designed to assess the attitude of Omani people to the state of their teeth, their personal oral hygiene and their acceptance of dental care. The questions were formulated to provide information without the need for dental examination. In Oman, as opposed to industrialised countries, the rate of dental decay is on the increase. In addition, there is a high prevalence of periodontal diseases as observed by this survey as well as some previous studies. The results of this nationwide survey, in connection with two previous field and clinical studies, indicate that more importance must be given to oral hygiene education together with increased facilities for treatment.