Year : 2022

Volume : Volume 13

Issue : Issue 3

Address for correspondence :
Dr. P. Nagarjuna
pottemnagarjuna45@gmail.com

Abstract

Background: Dental diseases are generally not self-limiting. If untreated, dental conditions may affect the person’s well-being and overall quality
of life. The aim of the study is to assess the level of utilization of dental health-care services and to determine barriers that prevent utilization
of dental health care services among the white-collar port workers in Visakhapatnam, India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study
was carried out among 300 port workers aged 30 years and above, who were willing to participate during the month of December 2021 in
Visakhapatnam District. A multistage sampling method was followed. The source of data was primary in nature and it was obtained through
self-administered questionnaire. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics Chi-square test, regression analysis using SPSS
version 20. Results: Only 39% of patients had visited the dentist in the past 12 months. The most common reported reasons for the last dental
visit were pain or a dental emergency (71%), followed by restorative treatment (17%) and other reasons by 12%. The most commonly reported
reasons for not seeking dental care were “Not needed unless have pain” by 360 (60%), “I do not think dental diseases are very serious” by
304 (51%), “I have fear of dental procedures” by 290 (48.6%),“Lack of time” by 235 (45.6%), “Dental treatment is expensive” by 200 (33.3%),
“The dentist is at a long distance” by 158 (26.8%). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that only a small portion of population visited dentist
in the previous year. Most of them believe that visiting dentist is necessary only for pain relief.
Keywords: Communication barriers, Port workers, Dental health services, Utilization.