Oral health status, treatment needs, and patterns of utilization of dental services among village volunteers in Andhra Pradesh: A cross-sectional multi-stage cluster survey.

BACKGROUND: Community health depends on the leadership duties of a diverse population, such as village volunteers. Hence, a study was conducted to assess oral health status, treatment needs, and patterns of utilization of dental services among village volunteers in Andhra Pradesh state.

METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 village volunteers in Andhra Pradesh state, India. A multi-stage cluster sampling procedure was employed in sample selection. A questionnaire was used to review the pattern of utilization of dental services. World Health Organization Oral Health assessment form 1997 was used to evaluate oral health status and treatment needs. Data collected were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 25.0. Descriptive statistics were done.

RESULTS: Out of 400, 18% had never visited the dental clinic in their lifetime. The majority (33.5%) considered that dental problems were not a serious concern. Dental caries was seen in 69.5%, and 78.5% were presented with periodontal conditions. About 19.8% and 24.3% had crowding and spacing in incisal segments, respectively. The prevalence of oral mucosal disorders and dental fluorosis was 4.25% and 8.75%, respectively. Overall, 94% of the study participants needed dental treatment for various reasons.

CONCLUSION: This study provides sufficient evidence to conclude that this population's oral health was poor, with increasing unmet dental treatment needs. Selected interventions and strategies should focus on these factors to decrease the burden of oral diseases among village volunteers.