Barriers to Dental Service Utilization Among Adults in Akure Metropolis, Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Utilization of dental services remains low in many developing countries despite the availability of oral-health facilities. This study assessed barriers to and identified predictors of dental service utilization among adults in Akure Metropolis, Ondo State, Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 480 adults selected using a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS version 26. Dental-service utilization was defined as having visited a dental clinic at least once within the preceding 12 months. Descriptive statistics summarized variables, while Chi-square tests and binary logistic regression identified factors associated with utilization at a significance level of p < 0.05. Results: Although 81.7% of respondents were aware of dental clinics, only 39.0% were aware of preventive dental services. While 57.1% had ever visited a dentist, only 27.9% reported utilization within the past 12 months, with most visits being symptom-driven. Major barriers included high cost of care (73.1%), fear of dental pain (62.1%), and long waiting times (51.0%). Educational level and monthly income were significantly associated with service utilization (p < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that higher education, higher income, and awareness of preventive services significantly increased the likelihood of utilization, whereas fear of dental pain reduced it. Conclusion: Dental service utilization in Akure Metropolis appears low and largely ymptom-driven. Financial, informational, and psychological factors may act as barriers; however, given the cross-sectional design, these associations do not imply causality. Improving oral-health education, financial access, and service delivery may enhance utilization.