Mansour K. Assery, BDS, MPH,* Khalid M. Al-Saif, BDS, MS**
*Prosthodontist, Al-Jubail Naval Base Hospital, P.O. Box 1 347, Tail, Saudi Arabia
**College of Dentistry, King Saud University, P.O. Box 60169, Riyadh 11545, Saudi Arabia

The results of a survey on the knowledge and practices related to oral health care of 140 patients seen at the three hospitals in Jubail area are presented. Poor standards were evident in relation to the knowledge of basic aspects of dental health and in the practice of personal oral hygiene. The most significant deficiency was failure to seek regular dental care. Of the patients, 67% visited their dentist only as a matter of necessity "due to toothache". Another deficiency was that 33% of the patients were never advised by their doctor to see a dentist.


Saudi Dental Journal 1993;5(1):13-16.