Self-medication in the dental field in an adult population

Abstract

Introduction: The practice of self-medication is considered a potential threat in the field of health in general and particularly in the dental field, since the people who engage in it are unaware of the adverse reactions. The objective of the study was to determine the rate of dental self-medication in adults in the city of Guayaquil, Ecuador 2021. Materials and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study, the instrument used was a previously validated virtual survey. A sample of 402 persons met the inclusion criteria. Results: The prevalence of self-medication found was 88.31% (n=355), with respect to age there was statistical significance (p<0.000), the people who presented the highest frequency of self-medication were between 18 and 44 years of age (91%; n=289). The drugs most in demand were anti-inflammatory drugs (31%; n=126), with tablets being the most common (73.4%; n=295). Conclusion: The prevalence of dental self-medication in the city of Guayaquil is high, with young adults being the population most exposed to this practice; these data are alarming.