The use of dental services on a regular basis in the population of Montes Claros in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil

Of the 2582 study participants, 761 required and obtained access to the services for less than a year. Of these, 262 (35.8%) used the services in a regular/routine manner. The use of dental services on a regular basis was greatest among individuals in the age group “≥ 18 ≤ 37”; with schooling “equal to or greater than 9 years”; who classified their oral health, general health and appearance of teeth and gums as “excellent/good”; who reported no pain” on teeth and gums over the last six months; They reported that the “assistance provider had adequate skills”; that they “always/often” received information about oral hygiene and diet/nutrition.

In addition, this use was lower among those who rated the time to ask questions about the dental problem or treatment as “regular/bad/terrible.” The conclusion drawn is that the use of dental services on a regular basis was relatively low, being associated with personal traits, subjective health conditions and characteristics related to the services.