Self-reported dental visits among adults in Benin City, Nigeria

Objective: To identify patterns and predictive factors independently associated with self-reported dental visits of adults resident in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 358 adults aged 18-64 years using a closed ended, oral health questionnaire administered by trained interviewers to assess sociodemographic information and factors associated with oral healthcare utilisation. Results: 26% of adults reported having visited a dentist within the previous 12 months, 22% within 12-36 months, 30% over 36 months previously, and 22% had never been to a dentist. 32% visited a dentist for treatment, 22% when in pain, and 2% when referred. Those aged 25-34 years were twice as likely as those aged 18-24 years to have visited a dentist in the past year after adjusting for sex, and employment. Women were twice as likely as men to have visited a dentist within the past 12 months after adjusting for age and employment. Conclusion: Being of younger age, female and employed were associated with visiting a dentist in the previous 12 months.