Aim:

To explore the beliefs in oral health of people who attend a dental school of a private regional Chilean university as patients.

Methods:

A qualitative study explored the beliefs about oral health of 11 people attending a private Chilean university for treatment, through semi-structured interviews, transcribed verbatim. The content was analyzed in Atlas-ti 8.4, building predetermined and emerging categories and subcategories. Triangulation was carried out among the researchers. The study was authorized by the Ethics and Research Committee and informed consent was obtained. Results: Five categories were generated: beliefs about dental caries, beliefs about periodontal disease, beliefs about tooth loss, beliefs about oral care, and origin of beliefs in oral health. Varied health beliefs were reflected, influenced mainly by their close and non-professional environment.

Conclusions:

People who attend a dental school for care present health beliefs more related to caries than to periodontitis, oral care, and tooth loss. The origin of the beliefs is usually family and acquaintances, rather than dentists.

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