Self Reported Dental Health Attitudes and Behaviour of Dental Students in Turkey Sinem Yildiza Basak Dogana AbstrAct Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the differences in self-reported oral health at- titudes and behaviour between preclinical and clinical dental students in Turkey using Hiroshima University Dental Behavioural Inventory (HU-DBI). Methods: A Turkish version HU-DBI questionnaire with additional 7 questions, totally 27 items, was distributed among 1022 dental students. Results: The response rate was 75% (486 preclinical and 278 clinical students). Significantly higher (P=0.000) percentage of the preclinical students, compared to clinical students, worry about colour of their teeth, are bothered by the colour of their gums, put off going to the dentist until they have a toothache; think that their teeth are getting worse despite their daily brushing, it is impos- sible to prevent gum disease with tooth brushing alone, and they cannot help having false teeth when they are old. Moreover, the preclinical students more frequently agree on that their gums tend to bleed when they brush their teeth, they use a toothbrush which has hard bristles, and they don’t feel they’ve brushed well unless with strong strokes (P=0.000). However, a higher proportion of clini- cal students compared to preclinical students brush each of their teeth carefully, think that they can clean their teeth without using toothpaste, have had their dentist tell them that they brush very well (P=0.000). The HU-DBI score of clinical students (7.47±1.86) was significantly (P=0.000) higher than preclinical students (6.00±1.86). Conclusions: Dental students should have a comprehensive program, including their self-care regimes, starting from their first year of education. (Eur J Dent 2011;5:253-259) Key words: Dental students; Oral health attitudes and behavior; HU-DBI; Turkey. IntroducIno Written and visual media, and dentists are the most common sources for receiving oral health information.1,2 Oral health attitudes and behav- iour are also influenced by parents in early years a Marmara University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Periodontology, Istanbul, Turkey. Corresponding author: Basak Dogan Marmara University, Faculty of Dentistry, Depart- ment of Periodontology Buyuk Ciftlik Sokak No:6 34365 Nisantasi, Sisli, Istanbul, Turkey. Phone: +90 212 2319120 Fax: +90 212 2465247 E-mail: basakdogan@marmara.edu.tr July 2011 - Vol.5 of life3,4 and predict the actual oral health status.5 Dental students, as the future providers of den- tal care, are expected to be a role model for their patients, family members and friends and ensure their awareness of oral health maintenance. At- titudes of dental students toward their own oral health affect their oral health habits and also have possible influence on the improvement of the oral health of their patients.6,7 Hiroshima University Dental Behavioural In- ventory (HU-DBI) was developed by Kawamura dealing mainly with oral health attitudes and be- 253 European Journal of Dentistry