Poor oral health is an important public health
issue. Adolescents represent a challenging
group in terms of oral health because they
have vulnerable permanent teeth erupting at
a time when they are establishing their independence
from parental influence. Preventing
oral disease by attempting to influence the
behaviours that impact adversely on oral health
requires an understanding of the attitudes and
beliefs that underpin those behaviours. Very
few studies have investigated adolescents’ attitudes
and beliefs in relation to dental issues.
This study aimed to examine the attitudes and
beliefs of adolescents towards dentistry and
oral disease in order to inform future health
promotion interventions. Data were collected
through focus groups involving 22 13- to 14-
year olds from selected secondary schools in
Liverpool. A thematic analysis was applied to
the data. The themes identified illustrated the
attitudes and beliefs of adolescents in relation
to oral health and demonstrated how adolescents
justify and personally operationalize
these attitudes and beliefs. A need to encourage
this group to take action to perform oral
health behaviours was demonstrated