Conceptions users of a public dental service on oral health-disease

Abstract

Introduction: The study and analysis of health cannot exclude the plot of concepts, beliefs, meanings and perceptions that patients have, built on the basis of their social interaction. Objective: To identify the oral health/disease conceptions on the users of a public dental service. Method: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out.A convenience sampling was applied. The sample was constituted by 50 patients, from 18 to 60 and more years of age, which attended to the dental service of the “Ambulatorio Sur-Veritas” of the Venezuelan Social Security Institute, Maracaibo – Zulia state, Venezuela; during October 2012. The variables defined for this study were: Oral health/disease, dentistry professional’s attention and edentulism. A semi-structured questionnaire was used and quantitative and qualitative data analysis techniques were applied. Results: The significance of "having a healthy oral cavity" was strongly linked to the absence of disease (53%). 82% of users stood out the good presence, image and beauty as one of the greatest benefits of having a good oral health. 74% of the respondents expressed that the expenses implied in the rehabilitation treatments were the thing that most affected them about having an oral disease. 76% of users said that their experience with the dentistry professional’s attention was good. Regarding edentulism 58% associated it with ugliness, disgust or personal carelessness, and 42% linked it to old age. Conclusions: The conceptions about oral health/disease of the individuals considered in this study were strongly associated with aesthetics in its relating of beauty and image; even though advances were found with respect to recognize oral health as a component of general health.

Keywords

• salud bucal
• concepciones
• servicio odontológico.