Pattern of dental services utilization among adolescents and adults in Kano, Northern Nigeria

Nigeria is often conveniently described along geographical lines as North and South, each with its peculiar culture, predominant religion, and distinctive determinants of health. Available oral health information for Nigeria is derived from studies that have mainly been conducted in southern Nigeria. This study describes oral care-seeking behavior in northern Nigeria by analyzing the attendance pattern at a tertiary hospital over a period. Clinic records of patients who visited the Oral Diagnostic Sciences (ODS) clinic in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, were retrieved and retrospectively reviewed. Data on age, sex, ethnicity, and chief dental complaints were extracted and analyzed using SPSS version 20 (IBM Corp.; Armonk, NY, USA). The clinic records of 1,620 patients were reviewed, and the results showed that more males than females visited the clinic (55.4%), and dental pain was the most common reason for visiting the clinic (57.1%). Young adults and youths comprised the majority of patients, while the elderly population was the least represented. The study reveals dental healthcare utilization patterns in Kano, Nigeria, with sex differences reflecting sociocultural factors influencing health behaviors. The high proportion of dental pain cases highlights the need for preventive oral health efforts. The association between young/middle-aged individuals and dental trauma highlights occupational hazards and lifestyle as key determinants of dental health outcomes.