DOCUMENTED DENTAL ATTENDANCE PATTERNS DURING CHILDHOOD AND ADOLESCENCE

This 6-year retrospective study investigated the dental visiting habit s of 263 working class adolescents in Greater Manchester. The aims of the study were to determine when young people were most likely to chan ge their attendance patterns and to identify which subjects were most likely to stop seeking routine care. The frequency and reasons for all dental attendances made over a 6-year period were documented using cl inical notes from general practices and community clinics. At the end of the study period, when the subjects were 13-15 years old, 62% were found to be maintaining an asymptomatic pattern of attendance, that is attending for examinations in the absence of symptoms. Sixteen per ce nt had symptoms or very rarely for check-ups. The number of subjects s eeking routine care declined from the age of 9 years and those who con tinued to attend for examinations did so with a reduced frequency than when they were younger. It is concluded that encouragement to continu e asymptomatic attendance should commence during the last years at pri mary school (10-11 years of age), a strategy which could result in up to 90% of the population of young adults retaining an asymptomatic den tal attendance pattern.