Within the context of a district health system, it is important to consider communities in their own environment, understanding their beliefs, attitudes, health behaviours, and socio-environmental structures that may influence the demand and utilisation of community-based health services. (Bedi, 1998; Petersen, 1990; Black et al, 1980).
Objectives: In 1996 the Faculty of Dentistry established a community-based clinic in Winterveldt. The objective of this study is to analyse utilisation of dental services at the Winterveldt clinic.
Methods: Clinical data was recorded over a period of eight years, and retrospectively analysed using the Analysis of Variance) (ANOVA).
Results: The patient attendance rate varied between 1208 in 1999 and 2849 in 2002. Year 4 was a peak year, and 33,7% of patients significantly required more procedures than in years 3, 6, 7 and 8. As far as procedures done on teeth were concerned, there was a significantly (p<0,05) higher proportion of extractions. There was no statistically significant difference between years with regard to the average number of procedures done per patient.
Conclusion: Over the years the attendance rate of patients increased with a significant proportion demanding dental extractions