Background and objectives. Many previous studies showed clear gender differences in the percentages of adults reporting toothbrushing more than once a day. This study evaluated the factors determining gender differences in toothbrushing among Lithuanian middle-aged university employees. Material and Methods. A questionnaire survey was anonymously conducted among 35- to 44-year-old employees (n=862) of four universities in Lithuania in 2005. The response rate was 64% (n=553). Data covered toothbrushing frequency, habitual dental attendance, dental health attitudes and knowledge, and subject’s background information. Results. Of all respondents, 68% reported brushing their teeth more than once a day (73% of women and 49% of men, P<0.001) and 51% indicated checkup-based habitual dental attendance (54% of women and 41% of men, P=0.012). The majority reported good dental status as being important to them and poor oral health as injurious to general health. Of all respondents, 44% indicated that “Lack of time is the main reason for incomplete oral self-care” (61% of men and 40% of women, P<0.001). Logistic regression models showed that the strongest factor affecting toothbrushing frequency was the importance of good dental health to them (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1–2.4; P=0.02) among women and statement that “Poor oral health can be injurious to general health” (OR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.2–5.5; P=0.01) and checkup-based habitual dental attendance (OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.0–5.9; P=0.06) among men. Conclusions. Due to different determinants affecting toothbrushing frequency among men and women, different oral health motivation programs by gender should be developed.

Objective. This study aimed to evaluate and describe the dental attendance patterns and to characterize the factors that encourage preventive dental visits among 35- to 44-year-old university employees in Lithuania. Material and methods. A questionnaire survey was conducted anonymously among the 35- to 44-year-old employees (n=862) of four universities in Lithuania in 2005. The response rate was 64% (n=553). Data on their most recent dental visit, habitual dental attendance, and self-reported dental health were collected. Gender, marital status, education, and income levels served as background factors. Of the respondents, 79% were women, and 82% held a university degree. Results. Of all the respondents, 75% reported having their most recent dental visit within the previous 12 months; 19% indicated a preventive check-up as the reason for it (15% – self-decided visit and 4% – dentist’s recall). The most common treatments received were fillings (75%), scaling and cleaning (28%), and endodontic treatment (22%). Analysis of the data about habitual dental attendance showed that preventive check-up as the main reason for attendance was more commonly reported by women (OR=1.7), among those who indicated having lost fewer teeth (OR=1.5), reported higher incomes (OR=1.4), and who indicated a shorter time interval since their most recent dental visit (OR=1.3). Conclusion. Dental problem seems to be a dominant reason for dental attendance in Lithuania where both dentists’ and patients’ behavior weakly reflects preventive orientation.