The aim of this study was to determine the socio-economic conditions of patients seen at the clinics of the Ribeirão Preto School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, during the second half of 1994. A total of 532 (78%) patients responded to a questionnaire given to them. The results showed that, on average, 4 persons lived in each house and 1.8 worked. A total of 55.7% of the patients' families had a monthly income of less than 5 minimum wages, 66.5% owned their home and 50.2% had not finished elementary school. We conclude that the majority of the patients who participated in this study had low monthly income and low level of formal education.
Public health; Patients; Schools, dental
