Nimota Olabisi Owolabi
Introduction: Oral diseases have been found to affect all groups of people regardless of age, sex and social economic status. Medical students are pacesetters in health related matters among peer group and their dental needs/demands/utilization are important future indicators of their ability to educate and refer patient for dental treatments.
Aims: To determine dental needs, demands and pattern of service utilization among medical students of College of Medicine, University of Lagos.
Materials and methods: A cross sectional descriptive study among medical students of College of Medicine, University of Lagos. An 18 items self-administered questionnaire made of open and close-ended questions was administered to randomly selected students from five levels/classes. Data was analyzed manually and dental needs, demands/ utilization by medical students were compared using percentages, tables and pie-chart.
Results: A total of 50 respondent/student aged between 18-29 years participated in this study. Approximately 42% agreed they need dental treatment for a periodontal disease (4%), tooth discoloration (4%), malocclusion (8%), Dental pain (12%), dental caries (20%), scaling and polishing (24%) and routine check-up (28%). 62% of the students have utilised dental service once previously based on needs, 38% have never visited dentist due to dental anxiety/phobia, inaccessibility and cost and only 14% of the total respondent routinely visited the dentist. Majority 54.5% of those who visited dentist patronized a private dentist and 45.5% visited public/ government subsidized dentist.
Conclusion: Medical students dental needs/demands and utilization can be improved by better oral health awareness/access to dental surgeries and subsidized dental cost.