The main complaint of patients at the Dentistry School of Piracicaba - Fop/Unicamp who have undergone the first clinical examination

Abstract

The authors report the findings of a study with 1389 patients who have undergone the first clinical examination at the School of Dentisty of Piracicaba/UNICAMP, asking for the main complaints that made them seek dental care. In total 2023 complaints were obtained and classified according to treatment needs. Pain, although being the commonest complaint, may have been used to prioritise the treatment. Dental restoration was the second commonest complaint revealing the patients desire for reestablishing dental aesthetics and function. Orthodontic treatment was also sought by a considerable number of patients from low as well as high-income groups. Financial situation was not reported as an important complaint, although the great majority of patients belong to the low-income group.