Department of Preventive Dentistry Faculty of Dentistry, College of Health Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, Choba Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.

Department of Preventive Dentistry Faculty of Dentistry, College of Health Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, Choba Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, College of Health Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.
Dental status ,Oral hygiene ,Practices ,Public transporters ,Oral health promotion ,

The oral health status of a population is usually determined by the presence or absence of dental caries and periodontal disease as well as the level of oral hygiene found in the population. The aim of the study was determine oral health practices and status of public transport operators in Choba Rivers State Nigeria. The study was conducted among 132 public transport operators, aged 16-62 years, with a mean age of 34.1 (±8.8) years at the Delta motor park of the University of Port Harcourt. Data were collected through interviewer-administered questionnaire and oral examinations. The selfreported oral health conditions among the participants were toothache, 77 (58.3%); gingival bleeding, 110 (83.3%); halitosis, 43 (32.6%) and stains, 31 (23.5%). Of the 132 participants studied, 15.2% had one or more carious teeth and 9.1% had at least one missing tooth. Only 16 (12.1%) of the participants had visited the dentist and the majority (80.3%) brushed once daily. Poor oral hygiene was reported in 54% of the subjects. Participants who had toothache, bleeding gingiva and halitosis were significantly more likely to have poor oral hygiene status in comparison with their counterparts in the present study. The oral hygiene status and utilization of dental services recorded in this study was poor compared to previous reports in Nigeria. The high prevalence of self-reported oral conditions, poor pattern of dental visits and self-medication, indicate the need for oral health education and promotion in this group.

5 , 7 , 2015