Vol. 11, Issue 3, Part B (2025)

Aim: To assess the attributes and perception of general public who are delaying their dental treatment – A cross sectional questionnaire study.

Materials and methods: This hospital-based cross-sectional study was done among patients visiting Sri Venkateshwaraa Dental College over a period of 5 months. The study sample consisted of 393 outpatients. The eligibility criteria where any patient above 18 years were included. Survey was conducted via distribution of structured custom-made questionnaire. The data of responses of participants were collected and statistical analyses was performed using chi square test.

Results: The analysis and comparison of various reasons for delaying dental treatment among the study population (n=393), about 55.08% of participants approached or visited the dentist only after the onset of dental pain followed by 23.92% visited upon noticing decay, in which females comprised majority. The reason among patients for delaying their dental treatment, the highest priority chosen as fear of pain during treatment at about 27.95% and 16.71% for fear of injection. 52.2% of participant responded pandemic situation prevented them from visiting a dentist and reasons that prevented them from visiting, about 79.2% participants had fear of contracting the disease.

Conclusion: Awareness and knowledge about oral health and dentistry among population has come too far from insignificant and ignorance. This humongous attention needs a little more supportive and attitude from both sides to increase the overall oral hygiene to the next standard.