Utilization of Dental Services by High School Adolescents of Mexico

Objectives: Using Andersen’s revised Behavioral Model of Health Services Utilization, we identified predisposing factors, facilitators, psychosocial, behavioral and need factors associated with the use of dental services in the last year among a sample of adolescents of “Culhuacán” High School in Mexico.
Methods: This cross-sectional study included a sex-stratified random sample of 303 students (18-19 years old) with signed informed consent, during 2013 and 2014. A self-administered questionnaire measured demographic data, oral hygiene practices, use of dental services in the last year, alcohol and tobacco use, and assessed perceived stress scale (PSS), depressive symptoms (CESD-20 scale) and social support (MSPSS scale). An oral examination was performed following the WHO criteria. Descriptive and multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify variables associated with the use of dental services in the last year.
Results: About half (46%) of the participants were women, and most (66%) reported a middle socioeconomic status (SES, based on household education and other factors). Almost half (47%) visited the dentist in the last year, many (42%) for a checkup. The mean DMFT was 4.18 ± 3.62, and 90% had bleeding on probing. Logistic regression showed that those with higher SES, were 6.9 times more likely to go to the dentist (OR= 6.9 [2.22 – 21.46] p= 0.001), and those who used mouthwash or dental floss were 1.9 more likely to visit the dentist (OR= 1.9 [1.10 – 3.36] p= 0.025). Losing teeth increased the probability of visiting the dentist 5.8 times (OR= 5.8 [2.06 – 16.82] p= 0.001).
Conclusions: Among adolescents of “Culhuacán” High School, facilitators, behavioral and need factors were associated with the use of dental services in the last year.