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francescap
francescap

The sense of self-efficacy is crucial

The sense of self-efficacy is crucial

4/26/2023 1:25:10 AM   |   Comments: 0   |   Views: 365
Researchers have looked at factors that may contribute to some people getting regular dental check-ups while others don't.

Why do some people have dental check-ups that are too regular, while others only visit a dentist's office when they have severe symptoms? Researchers from Japan have investigated this question. Being aware of the benefits of dental check-ups and preventive measures seems to be crucial. Apparently, risk-avoidance behavior plays only a very minor role.

The researchers first used a questionnaire to examine oral health behavior, the degree of risk aversion, aspects of the health belief model and the willingness of students to undergo regular dental check-ups. Thereafter, they were subjected to an intraoral examination. In total, the data of 748 participants could be evaluated.

The authors refer to Rosenstock's Health Belief Model, which describes people's health behaviors based on various aspects that include "perceived vulnerability, severity, benefits and barriers" [Sumita et al., 2022]. Other components – including incentives to act and self-efficacy – were added later. The risk aversion of the subjects was also examined as part of this study. The researchers explain that people with high risk aversion would try to avoid risks as much as possible. For example, people who are averse to the risk would seldom use cigarettes and alcohol and generally tend to have check-ups.

More interdental hygiene, more visits to the dentist

The results show that regular dental examinations are more likely to be noticed if their positive benefits are recognized. The researchers refer here to the category of the Health Belief Model: “Beliefs about the usefulness of recommended behaviors in reducing the risk of a disease or its consequences” [Sumita et al., 2022]. Only this category of the Health Belief Model showed a significant association. Another was between regular interdental space hygiene and the willingness to participate in dental check-ups. The authors suspect that the aspect of self-efficacy could play a role here - in this case specifically the confidence that the use of interdental brushes can positively influence one's own oral health. However, no significant correlation could be established with absolute risk aversion or parameters of oral health (DMFT, BOP, plaque index). The former could have been influenced by the young age of the subjects.

Have your teeth checked regularly and save money

Patients who attend their check-ups are not only doing something good for their dental health, they are also easy on their wallets. On the other hand, those who keep postponing their check-ups and only go to the dentist when the symptoms are already severe must expect an expensive procedure to be carried out. Of course, the statutory health insurance covers the standard care. But if you want high-quality fillings and don't want to pay horrendous sums for dentures, you should insure your teeth.

Depending on the tariff, the amount of co-payments can be significantly reduced and even set to zero for some treatments. In addition, such supplementary dental insurance often also covers preventive measures that are sometimes recommended by the dentist as part of the check-ups. This applies, for example, to dental prophylaxis, which is intended to help prevent tooth decay and gingivitis.

In some cases, the check-up cannot help. If a tooth is lost or damaged as a result of an accident, emergency treatment is required. In this case, too, those affected should not shirk a visit to the dentist. Because even if the first pain subsides quickly, treatment may still be necessary to avoid greater damage. If the accident happened at the weekend or in the evening, the dental emergency service will provide first aid. In order to be able to take advantage of the best possible treatments, supplementary dental insurance is recommended, especially because of the risk of accidents.

Visit Modern Dentists Regularly 

Regular dental healthcare appointments will ensure that your teeth and gums are in top-notch condition. Royal Centre Dental Group has a team led by top dentist downtown Vancouver and their highly experienced specialist orthodontist oversees the majority of Invisalign treatment in Vancouver..

Reference:

Sumita, I.; Toyama, N.; Ekuni, D et al., The Impact of Oral Health Behaviors, Health Belief Model, and Absolute Risk Aversion on the Willingness of Japanese University Students to Undergo Regular Dental Check-Ups: A Cross-Sectional Study. international J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 13920. 
Category: Health, Wellness and Ergonomics
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