ISSN: 2642-6250
Authors: Moore JB*, Turner L, Stellefson M and Chaney BH
Background: Regular dental examinations are a fundamental component in maintaining optimal oral health. The transitional period from adolescents to young adulthood frequently brings about shifts in one’s dental hygiene practices. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) underscores the importance of intentionality in health-related actions, suggesting a direct correlation between the strength of one’s intent and the likelihood of performing the behavior. This study aims to measure the effectiveness of TPB in explaining dental visit behaviors. Methods: An instrument was adapted for a college student population which examined constructs of the TPB, oral health knowledge, and expected social outcomes. The survey was administered electronically and available for a 3-week period. Results: A total of 370 individuals completed the survey. All constructs of the TPB displayed univariate significance. However, only subjective norms and perceived behavioral control were significant predictors of dental visits when accounting for other predictors in the model. Oral health knowledge and expected social outcomes were not significant predictors. Conclusion: Dental hygiene behaviors among college students progressively decline throughout college. Universities should carefully consider improving availability of dental hygiene resources on-campus. Dental health education can be enhanced to promote the importance of dental hygiene throughout one’s time in college.
Keywords: Dental Visits; Dental Examinations; Theory of Planned Behavior; College Students; Dental Health; Oral Health
