Oral health knowledge and behaviours and barriers to dental attendance of school children and adolescents in the Caribbean island of Antigua.

The purpose of the questionnaire survey was to gather data on dental health knowledge from 12 year-old school children and 15-19 year-old adolescents including self-reported dental behaviours and factors affecting regular dental attendance. The completed questionnaires of 350 children and 345 adolescents were analysed. The majority of young people were able to correctly identify the functions of teeth and cariogenic foods, and were also aware of the signs of periodontal disease. However, they incorrectly defined the meaning of dental caries and dental plaque. Also students claimed good oral hygiene behaviour and willingness to receive necessary treatment for a carious tooth from a dentist. Sixty five per cent of children and 74 per cent of adolescents, went to a dentist at some time and were likely to receive extraction at their last visit. Cost and fear were found to be the common barriers for regular dental attendance.