Oral diseases are very common problems worldwide and also in the Finnish population. Poor oral hygiene and excessive sugar consumption are two major factors for causing oral diseases. The role of preventive healthcare and patient´s active role in their health maintenance have been emphasized during the last years. Especially the risk groups should be advised carefully and they should be empowered to take control over their lives and their health. Preventive oral health care has been shown to be a cheap and effective way to control caries. Yet, during the last few years the funding of the preventive oral health care has been decreased. New evidence-based strategies and methods should be developed for oral health education. The adolescents’ point of view needs to be settled in order to create educational methods and materials which have long-term effect on the adolescents’ oral health.

The aim of this study is to describe the meaning of oral health to the adolescents. The goal is to find ways of improving patient education in oral health care and in schools. The research task is to describe the kinds of meanings adolescents themselves have of oral health.

The data were gathered from one of the upper secondary schools of the city of Turku. Ten out from 15 classes were able to participate to the study. The data were gathered using Webropl-tool. The questionnaire consisted of background questions and an open-ended question: write a short and meaningful story about oral health and describe why this story is important to you. 126 adolescents answered to the questionnaire. Stories were analyzed through inductive approach using thematic analysis and an application of the model by Braun & Clarke (2006).

In general the results of this study show that adolescents consider the meaning of oral health mainly because of the effect on appearance and social interaction. Adolescents considered that their own actions and consequences of dental traumas meaningful. The experiences of oral health care were considered as meaningful and they could be either positive or negative in their nature. The outcome of adolescent’s cognition of the experience can lead to motivation or to avoidance of oral health care. Adolescents’ developmental stage and its effects on oral health are also meaningful.

Emotional aspects and social consequences of oral health ought to be considered in the patient education aimed to adolescents. The appearance of the teeth and oral health in social situations are important among adolescents. Adolescents may benefit of oral health education aiming to increase knowledge of oral health and dental traumas. Supportive feedback, positive attitude towards the oral health care professionals as well as providing painless treatment can lead to better self-care.

Keywords: oral health, patient education, adolescence