Oral Hygiene Practices and Factors Affecting Oral Health Service Utilization among Children (11–14 Years) of Government School of Nikol Ward of East Zone of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

CONTEXT: Oral hygiene practices and factors affecting oral health service utilization among the children of 10–16 years of age play a vital role in achieving comprehensive dental care. AIMS: This study was done to assess oral hygiene practices, creating oral hygiene awareness, and to analyze the overt hurdles in getting basic and timely dental care among children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It was a cross-sectional survey conducted among 200 schoolchildren aged 11–14 years using a pretested, semistructured questionnaire, and clinical examination was done to assess dental caries. Convenience sampling method was used, and the sample size for the study was equal to the total number of participants. The logistic regression analysis along with odds ratios with 95% confidence interval and P < 0.05 was also reported. Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis of dental caries prevalence. RESULTS: Around 70% of the study participants had the habit of brushing their teeth once daily, whereas only 30% of them used to brush their teeth twice daily. The prevalence of dental caries shows an upward trend with increasing age from 11 to 14 years. Cost of dental treatment, transportation, and dental taboos followed by fear of dental treatment are the major constraints for the students in accessing dental treatment. CONCLUSION: School-based tooth brushing and oral health education programs should be regularly organized to promote healthy tooth brushing practices. The cost-effective and timely transportation services along with proper oral health education in alleviating fear of dental treatment and dental taboos should be provided to these children for enhancing the utilization of dental services.