Dental health attitudes and knowledge levels of rural and suburban Texas

This study was conducted to measure and compare differences in dental health knowledge and dental health attitude levels between patients in a selected rural dental practice and those in a selected suburban dental practice. Using a descriptive survey method with a quasi-experimental research design, dental health knowledge and dental health attitude levels were determined and compared in a convenience sample of 120 dental patients. Some demographic information was also collected and that data were interpreted using descriptive and inferential statistics. There were statistically significant differences in dental health knowledge and dental health attitude levels between the two dental groups. Differences in average age level in each dental practice, education levels, and differences between dental insurance and dental practice sites were all revealed; however, there was no statistically significant difference between males and females in dental health knowledge and dental health attitude levels.