DENTAL HEALTH: BELIEFS, ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOUR

This study attempts to understand and explore people's beliefs, attitudes and behaviour in relation to their dental health. With the recent re-organisation of the NHS dental service, people's dental behaviour has significant implications for dental service utilisation. Data were gathered from questionnaires administered to groups of employees at Plymouth University. There seems to be an increasing awareness of what good dental health practice is, although not all beliefs are translated into affirmative actions. People believe they know which foods are beneficial for healthy teeth and gums, and which are harmful. Although they dislike going to the dentist, they claim they attend regularly for check-ups, either for early detection of asymptomatic disease or for confirmation of their good oral health. The report concludes that with dental treatment becoming progressively more preventive, the type of dental service offered may well have to change fundamentally in order to meet the needs of the patient