Understanding Dental Fear: The Role of Perceptions
Author Information
Author(s): Armfield Jason M, Slade Gary D, Spencer A John
Primary Institution: Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health, School of Dentistry, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Hypothesis
Vulnerability-related perceptions would be significantly associated with dental fear after controlling for other possible confounding variables.
Conclusion
Perceptions of uncontrollability and dangerousness are significantly associated with high dental fear.
Supporting Evidence
- High dental fear is prevalent among individuals who perceive dental visits as uncontrollable.
- Perceptions of dangerousness significantly increase the odds of high dental fear.
- Unpredictability did not show a significant independent association with dental fear after controlling for other variables.
Takeaway
People who feel like they have no control or think going to the dentist is dangerous are more likely to be very afraid of dental visits.
Methodology
The study used a clustered, stratified national sample of Australians aged 15 years and over, assessing dental fear through telephone interviews and self-complete questionnaires.
Potential Biases
Participants with high dental fear may have been less likely to attend the dental examination, potentially skewing results.
Limitations
The study used single-item measures for dental fear and vulnerability perceptions, and the cross-sectional design limits cause-and-effect conclusions.
Participant Demographics
Mean age was 44 years, with 52.2% female; participants were from various Australian states and territories.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI for high dental fear prevalence ranged from 4.74 to 15.19 for ages 15-24.
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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