Assessment of Oral Hygiene Practices, Awareness, and Perceptions of Dental Scaling

Abstract

Oral health is a crucial determinant of general well-being, yet deficiencies in preventive care adherence persist. Professional prophylaxis, including dental scaling, is essential for managing periodontal disease (3). This study aimed to investigate patient behaviors, utilization rates of dental scaling, and the specific barriers, including misconceptions, that undermine public adherence to recommended oral hygiene practices and professional care. Methods: A survey was conducted to assess adherence to established oral hygiene recommendations, utilization rates of dental scaling, patient perceptions of its benefits, and the primary barriers deterring treatment uptake. The findings were synthesized with established literature (1, 2, 5) to interpret clinical and behavioural gaps Results: Significant gaps in basic daily hygiene were identified, with 58% of participants reporting brushing only once daily (a rate correlated with higher caries incidence). Preventive care uptake was low, as 47% sought dental care only when symptomatic. Overall utilization of scaling was moderate (57% lifetime experience). While most participants reported positive experiences (77.6% good or very good) and recognized the therapeutic value (e.g., improved gum health, 62%), deep-seated misconceptions were prevalent: 58% believed scaling causes permanent tooth sensitivity (4, 11). The primary barriers among non-users were feeling no need (35%) and unawareness (35%). Patient trust in professionals was high (76% would follow dentist’s advice). Conclusion: Widespread misconceptions regarding scaling and low adherence to basic daily hygiene severely compromise public oral health outcomes. Despite high patient satisfaction, fear and misinformation remain major determinants of low utilization. Successful intervention requires moving beyond general awareness to implement targeted educational strategies delivered by trusted dental professionals (9) that directly address prevalent myths and promote routine professional prophylaxis..

Introduction

Oral health plays a crucial role in overall well-being, yet preventable conditions like dental caries and periodontal disease remain widespread. Periodontal disease arises from plaque and calculus accumulation, which cause inflammation and progressive destruction of supporting tooth structures. Preventive care depends on two essential practices: daily self-care (primarily tooth brushing) and professional care, especially dental scaling, which removes hardened deposits and prevents disease progression. Research consistently shows that individuals who follow regular preventive dental visits achieve better long-term outcomes.

This study aimed to assess oral hygiene habits, public awareness of dental scaling, its perceived benefits, and barriers to adherence. A literature review and a survey of 100 adults were conducted. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests.

Results showed moderate oral hygiene awareness but poor adherence: 58% brush once daily, and 40% use no additional cleaning aids. Preventive dental visits were low, with 47% visiting only when in pain. While 73% had heard of scaling, misconceptions persisted—many believed it loosens teeth or causes permanent sensitivity. Dentists were the main source of information, and over half understood scaling’s benefits for gum health and bad breath. Although 57% had undergone scaling and most reported positive experiences, major barriers among non-users included unawareness, perceived lack of need, fear, and cost.

The discussion highlights that many findings align with existing literature: low brushing frequency increases disease risk, lack of interdental cleaning undermines plaque control, and preventive visits improve long-term oral health. Positive perceptions of scaling are strong, but myths and misinformation remain significant obstacles. Trust in dentists is high, making patient-centered education essential.

Overall, the study shows that while awareness of dental scaling is moderate, misconceptions and poor daily hygiene practices continue to limit effective periodontal care. Targeted educational interventions are needed to correct myths, encourage preventive visits, and improve public oral health behaviors.

Conclusion

This study identifies a critical disconnect in oral health behaviour: while the necessity of professional care is clinically established, adherence to both basic daily hygiene and dental scaling is suboptimal. Key findings show low utilization of preventive care and widespread misconceptions, particularly the unfounded fear that scaling causes permanent sensitivity. Despite high patient trust in dental professionals, these knowledge barriers and myths are the dominant factors deterring utilization. Therefore, improving public oral health requires moving beyond general awareness. Future strategies must focus on targeted, myth-dispelling counselling delivered by clinicians to convert positive perception into consistent adherence to routine professional prophylaxis, addressing the core barriers of fear and misinformation.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Aarthy M., Aamira Fathima, Abitha R., Dr. Nimisha Mithradas, Dr. Archana B.. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.