IRIMASO BENJAMIN

In developing countries, oral diseases are common health problems, and are often triggered by lack of awareness (Garchaet al., 2010). Many dental patients only visit the dentist when in pain and never bother to return for follow-up, they don’t visit for checkups and they don’t know the proper frequency of brushing (Ramandeepet al., 2013). There is an increased rate of negative perception on dental services due to dental anxiety and fear of pain which are major barriers to frequent dental consultation that lead to poorer oral health as reported in a study done in South west Nigeria. (Ajayiet al., 2012). A study done in Uganda stated that people were unaware of both preventive and curative dental services because many people reported that they refused to attend dental treatments complaining of the long distance taken to reach the dental services and long waiting time (Mutanda, 2011). Since 2009, the government, through the University of Rwanda has organized oral health education programs during community outreaches with the purpose of overcoming the above stated problem. However much the efforts that have been in place for 6 years, there is still high population that is not aware of these dental services. In Rwanda, there is no scientific study done about awareness and perception on dental services. This study was conducted to provide the baseline data with enough information to guide dental practitioners and decision makers in creating strategies such as oral health education in primary schools to provide enough information and establish access on dental services.