1. Complementary and alternative medicine usage by patients of a dental school clinic.
- Author
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Spector ML, Fischer M, Dawson DV, Holmes DC, Kummet C, Nisly NL, and Baker KA
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Adult, Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Attitude to Health, Back Pain prevention & control, Breathing Exercises, Chiropractic statistics & numerical data, Dental Clinics, Educational Status, Female, Humans, Income statistics & numerical data, Iowa, Male, Middle Aged, Orthomolecular Therapy statistics & numerical data, Phytotherapy statistics & numerical data, Pilot Projects, Religion, Schools, Dental, Tea Tree Oil therapeutic use, Toothache prevention & control, White People statistics & numerical data, Young Adult, Complementary Therapies statistics & numerical data, Dental Care statistics & numerical data
- Abstract
This pilot study investigated the prevalence and specific reasons for usage of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among patients of a dental school clinic. Four hundred and two patients completed a 30-page survey on CAM usage. A higher rate of CAM usage was found in this dental school clinic population than rates previously reported in a general population. More than three-quarters (76.1%) of the respondents reported using at least one CAM treatment in the past 12 months; 93.3% reported using at least one CAM treatment at some time in their lives. High rates of chiropractic use were found in this population. Tooth pain was the most frequently reported dental condition motivating CAM use. About 10% of dental school clinic patients use topical oral herbal and/or natural products to treat dental conditions, most frequently for preventive/oral health reasons or for tooth pain., (© 2012 Special Care Dentistry Association and Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)
- Published
- 2012
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