Oral health treatment needs and dental service utilization among outpatients with mental disorders in Nigeria

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the dental treatment needs and the level of dental service utilization among patients with mental disorders (PWMD). Setting: This was a cross-sectional study at a tertiary hospital in Nigeria conducted between March and November 2018. Methodology: The community periodontal index of treatment of needs and the Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth index were used to determine the dental and periodontal treatment needs. Dental service utilization was determined using a self-reporting assessment questionnaire. All data analyses were carried out using the IBM SPSS® Statistics version 20 and the statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: A total of 116 PWMD participated in the study with 51.7% being females. The age range was between 19 and 57 years and the mean age was 37.16 (±10.52). Dental treatment need was 40.8%, while 66% needed a range of periodontal interventions and this showed no statistically significant differences in terms of gender (P = 0.67, P = 0.15, respectively). While 32.7% had made previous dental visits, past caries experience, and other factors such as gender were significant predictors for dental visits. Conclusion: There was a high dental and periodontal treatment need among PWMD, yet the dental service utilization was low. More collaborations between oral and mental health specialists are needed to improve dental service utilization and promote holistic health care for PWMD.