1Former-Post Graduate Student, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Mangalore, Karnataka, India
2Associate Professor, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Mangalore, Karnataka, India
3Professor & Head, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Mangalore, Karnataka, India
4Associate Professor, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Mangalore, Karnataka, India
*Corresponding Author: Dr. Mithun Pai BH MDS, Associate Professor, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, (Manipal) Mangalore, Karnataka, India, Phone no: 91-824-2428716, Fax no: 91-824-2422653, Email ID: mithun.pai@manipal.edu
Online published on 26 September, 2019.
Dental anxiety implies feelings of uneasiness, anxiousness and fear on thinking about dentistry and dental treatment situations. Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) assesses the impact that oral diseases might have on the overall quality of life of individuals. It is a crucial aid in treatment planning and also for assessment of interventions. Literature regarding oral health status of Coast Guard personnel in India is scarce with almost no studies regarding their dental anxiety and OHRQoL.
To assess the relationship between Dental Anxiety, OHRQoL and Oral Health Status of Indian coast guard personnel in Mangalore, Karnataka.
A cross-sectional study was carried out among coast guard personnel in Mangalore. Dental Anxiety Questionnaire (DAQ) and 14-item Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) were employed to assess dental anxiety and OHRQoL respectively. WHO Oral Health Assessment Form was employed for assessment of oral health status of participants.
Findings showed that participants had poor oral hygiene with a dental caries prevalence of 62.9%, and periodontal disease prevalence of 81.9%. About 72% of the participants had low dental anxiety while visiting a dentist and almost all the participants reported good OHRQoL. OHRQoL and dental anxiety or oral health status showed no statistically significant association (p >0.05).
The findings showed that the overall oral health status of Coast Guard personnel were relatively poor with high treatment needs.
Coast Guard, dental anxiety, oral health status, quality of life
