Oral Hygiene and Diet Counseling in Dental Clinics in Suva

Method: An observational cross sectional study conducted with administering of a single blinded questionnaire after dental treatment but before discharging the patient

Result: Thirty seven percent (37%) of patients attending the dental clinic were given either or both oral hygiene and diet counseling; the highest by Dentists (33%), Dental Therapists (50%) and least by Dental Hygienists (25%).Sixty three percent (63%) did not receive any form of oral health education. Reasons for not giving oral hygiene and diet counseling in the clinic included language barrier, time busy doing clinical procedures, tend to forget, no patient motivation, no teaching aids and operator motivation while cultural background did not had any barrier to seek treatment.  

Conclusion:

Slightly more than a third (37%) of patients were given either or both oral hygiene and diet counseling. Majority of Oral Health Education were instructed by Dental Therapists (50%).  Reasons for not giving oral hygiene and diet counseling in the clinic ranged from difficulty from language barrier, time busy doing clinical procedures, tend to forget, no patient motivation, no teaching aids and operator motivation while cultural background did not had any barrier to seek treatment.