USE OF ADDITIONAL ORAL HYGIENE PRODUCTS AMONG DENTAL PATIENTS FROM THE CITY OF SPLIT

Cilj: Glavni cilj istraživanja bio je ispitati korištenje dodatnih sredstava za oralnu higijenu u populaciji dentalnih pacijenata u gradu Splitu, kao i stavove, navike i znanja o oralnoj higijeni i oralnom zdravlju, ali i njihovu povezanost sa dobi, spolom, stupnjem obrazovanja i socio-ekonomskim statusom. Materijal i metode: Provedeno je presječno istraživanje koje je uključilo pacijente devet ordinacija dentalne medicine u Splitu. Ispitanici su bili zdrave, odrasle osobe s barem 20 zuba u nizu s aproksimalnim kontaktima koji su potpisali informirani pristanak. Istraživanje se provodilo od početka svibnja do kraja lipnja 2017. godine i temeljeno je na anketnom upitniku koje se sastoji od dva dijela, od čega je prvi dio sadržavao upute o demografskim značajkama i navikama ispitanika, a drugi dio je sadržavao upite o navikama, znanjima i stavovima o oralnom zdravlju i oralnoj higijeni. Istraživanje je odobrilo Etičko povjerenstvo Medicinskog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Splitu. Rezultati: U ordinacijama dentalne medicine podijeljena su 324 anketnih upitnika. Ukupno 288 ispitanika ispunilo je anketu, od toga 42% muškaraca i 58% žena. 40% ispitanika posjećuje odabranog doktora dentalne medicine prema potrebi, a 60% ispitanika barem jednom godišnje. 84% ispitanika navodi da četka zube najmanje dva puta dnevno i to žene češće od muškaraca. Što se tiče dužine trajanja četkanja, 73% ispitanika navodi da četka zube jednu do tri minute. 43% ispitanika smatra da je četkanje dovoljno za postizanje dovoljne oralne higijene. 34% ispitanika navodi da svaki dan koristi zubni konac, dok interdentalne četkice svakodnevno koristi 16% ispitanika. Kao glavni razlog za nekorištenje zubnoga konca i interdentalnih četkica ispitanici navode da nije potrebno. Zaključci: Ovo istraživanja ukazuje da tek nešto više od polovice pacijenata posjećuje redovito odabranog doktora dentalne medicine dok gotovo polovica pacijenata to radi samo po potrebi. Također, istraživanje je otkrilo da su znanja o oralnome zdravlju nezadovoljavajuća. U odnosu na muške ispitanike, više žena redovito četka zube. Također, žene redovitije koriste zubni konac i interdentalne četkice od muškaraca. Istraživanje također otkriva da osobe višeg stupnja obrazovanja češće koriste zubni konac i interdentalne četkice od osoba nižeg stupnja obrazovanja.Objective: The main purpose of this study was to investigate the use of additional means for maintenance oral hygiene among dental patients in Split, as well as their attitudes, habits and knowledge about oral hygiene, with regard to patient's gender, level of education and socioeconomic status. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study including patients in nine dental offices in Split was carried out. Participants were healthy adults with at least 20 teeth in proximal contact who signed the informed consent. The study was conducted in period of two months between May and July 2017, and was based on a questionnire that consisted of two parts: first part encompassing demographic features and habits of participants, and second part including participant's habits, knowledge and attitudes on oral health. The study was approved by the Ethics Commitee of the University of Split School of Medicine. Results: 324 questionnaires were distributed in dental offices. Overall 288 participants filled the questionnairre, of which 42% were males and 58% were females. 40% participants stated they make dental check-up only when needed, and 60% of them stated they make annual dental check-up regularly. 84% participants stated that they toothbrush at least twice daily, women more often than men. As for duration of toothbrushing, 73% participants stated they brush their teeth for the duration of one to three minutes. 43% participants believe that toothbrushing is enough for maintenance of complete oral hygiene. 34% of participants stated they used dental floss every day, whilst 16% participants stated they used interdental brushes every day. As the main reason for not using dental floss and interdental brushes the participants stated that they didn't think it was necessary. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that just more than half of patients makes annual dental check-up, whilst the rest of the participants do the dental check-up only when they feel it is needed. Also, this study found that knowledge on oral health is not satisfying. Patients regularly brush their teeth, but women do that more often than men. Also, women use dental floss and interdental brushes more often than men. Study also reveals that patients with higher level of education use dental floss and interdental brushes more often that those of lower level of education