• Mayuree Tatiyakavee

Objectives  To study knowledge and behaviors in dental health promotion and prevention of people in Bnagrak district, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.

Materials and methods  Simple random sampling technique was used. Data was collected by questionnaires. The statistic analysis, X² test, using the SPSS program and statistically significant difference was set at p < 0.05.

Results  A total of 235 questionnaires were returned. The percentages of people who know the correct method of tooth brushing, the causes of dental caries and gingivitis, how to prevent dental caries, and how to prevent gingivitis were 74%, 85.1%, 86% and 70.2% respectively. The percentages of people who know the use of fluoride-varnishes in children, sealant application, fluoride supplement for pre-school children, and self oral examination were 39.6%, 57.9% 62.6%, and 38.7% respectively. Concerning to dental health behaviors, 91.1% brush their teeth at least twice a day, 64.3% visit dentists when they had oral problems, and 16.2% visit dentists for annual check-ups. The statistical analysis found that female, high educated people, and sufficient earned people had better knowledge and behavior in dental health promotion and prevention than male, lower educated people, and insufficient earned people. Learning from television and from advertisement were significantly related to their knowledge of dental brushing and gingivitis prevention. The need of using media for dental health education is significantly related to the learning from television (p < 0.05).

Conclusions  People in Bangrak district, Bangkok metropolitan administration have insufficient knowledge in dental health promotion and prevention. Sex, age, education, and income are important factors of behaviors of dental health promotion and prevention. Television is an effective media for dental health education.

(CU Dent J 2003;26:29-41)