Methods: A representative sample of 690 elderly individuals from 23 randomly selected wards in South -East Local government Area in Ibadan were interviewed by 2 trained community health nurses using a questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of coded questions enquiring into their social habits, socio-demographic status, last dental visits, and barriers to dental clinic attendance and practices.
Results: Among the 690 elderly participants, 45.8% clean their teeth twice daily whilst 38.7% once daily. Also 70.4% use chewing stick to maintain oral hygiene; however 66.4% do not brush their teeth with the chewed sticks. Quite a number (40.9%) do not eat sugary foods at all and 71% have never visited the dental clinic before. Among the study group 99.3% consider care of the teeth important whilst extraction is the treatment they expect for any dental problem (39.1%). Also 41.7% and 40.6% are of the opinion that tooth loss and gum disease are normal consequences of ageing.
Conclusion:Whilst the elderly people in this local government area have demonstrated a positive attitude towards care of the teeth which actually correlates with the frequency of tooth cleaning, their dental clinic attendance is very poor and their perception of dental treatment as well as oral health and ageing is very poor.