Role of oral health literacy in demand for oral healthcare services for missing teeth replacement among dental patients visiting a dental teaching hospital in India

Aims: To assess the role of oral health literacy (OHL) in demand for oral healthcare services for missing teeth replacement among adult patients who are visiting the outpatient department of a teaching hospital, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Settings and design: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a dental teaching institute, Andhra Pradesh, southern part of India.

Materials and methods: Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a sample of adult participants was selected through systematic random method from the patients who visited the outpatient department. Data from 740 participants were included in the final analysis. A prevalidated questionnaire adopted from Oral Health Literacy Adult Questionnaire (OHL-AQ) was used for data collection and american dental association (ADA) type IV clinical examination was used for recording missing teeth.

Statistical analysis used: Bivariate tests such as the Chi-square test, Mann-Whitney's test, and multinomial logistic regression analysis were used to assess the predictors for the demand for the replacement of missing teeth.

Results: The overall demand for replacement of missing teeth was 46.22%. 37.88% of participants had adequate OHL, 24.72% had marginal OHL, and 37.4% had inadequate OHL. Demand for replacement was more in females than males (57.6% vs. 35.6%), which was statistically significant (P = 0.00). Participants with missing anterior teeth had nearly twice the demand for prosthodontic care (P = 0.046). Participants with adequate OHL had 3.63 times more demand for prosthodontic replacement of missing teeth (odds ratio = 3.63 and P = 0.002).

Conclusion: OHL has a positive role in the demand for prosthodontic replacement of missing teeth along with gender and anterior missing teeth. Oral health policies should incorporate strategies to improve OHL.