Table 1 Distribution (%) of the responses by Nigerian dental students (n = 179) to the presented motives to study dentistry, and the mean scores given to each motive

Helping people to improve their oral health

2.09

36.0

17.7

9.2

10.5

6.5

20.1

Playing a role in community health promotion

1.77

33.5

20.5

11.2

15.5

7.5

11.8

Being a researcher in the field of dentistry

1.73

32.1

22.2

6.8

15.4

11.1

12.4

Personal interest in dentistry

2.88

15.6

14.3

9.7

14.3

13.6

32.5

Interest in working with one’s hands

2.81

17.9

18.5

4.6

15.9

19.9

23.2

Existence of artistic theme in dentistry

2.26

27.4

16.0

10.2

17.2

10.2

19.1

High income from practicing dentistry

2.33

24.7

9.1

14.9

20.8

13.0

17.5

Ability to be self-employed

3.12

16.0

10.0

9.3

10.0

18.7

32.0

Social status of being a dentist

2.52

22.9

11.1

14.4

14.4

17.0

20.3

Parents’ recommendation

3.17

14.5

6.6

16.5

14.5

19.1

30.0

Friends’ or relatives’ recommendation

3.05

12.7

12.7

14.7

15.3

18.7

26.0

Failure to be admitted to other programmes

2.30

21.9

19.2

14.6

17.2

11.9

15.2