A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Dental fear among population aged 30 years and older in Finland
Authors: Lahti S, Vehkalahti MM, Nordblad A, Hausen H
Publication year: 2007
Journal: Acta Odontologica Scandinavica
Journal name in source: Acta odontologica Scandinavica
Journal acronym: Acta Odontol Scand
Volume: 65
Issue: 2
First page : 97
Last page: 102
Number of pages: 6
ISSN: 0001-6357
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00016350601058085
Abstract
The aim of the study was to examine how the percentage of subjects reporting dental fear varied in accordance with age, gender, level of educational attainment, and marital status in a nationally representative sample of the adult population in Finland.\nThe two-stage stratified cluster sample (n=8028) represented the population aged 30 years or older living in Finland. Of this nationwide sample, 88% participated. Dental fear was measured with the question: "How afraid are you of visiting a dentist?" The reply alternatives were: "Not at all", "Somewhat", and "Very much". Age-specific multiple logistic regression analyses were used to explore the associations between dental fear and age, gender, marital status, and level of educational attainment.\nOverall prevalence of being somewhat or very afraid of visiting a dentist among adults in Finland was high (37%), particularly among 30 to 34-year-olds (47%). Among men and women of different ages, 5% to 19% were very afraid and 16% to 59% at least somewhat afraid of visiting a dentist. Female gender was the best determinant of dental fear. Those with higher educational attainment were about half as likely to be very much afraid of dentistry compared to those with secondary educational attainment. Among the youngest age group, non-singles were more likely to report being very much afraid of dentistry than single subjects.\nThe fairly high prevalence of reported dental fear among adults, especially in the youngest age group, presents a challenge to dental personnel in Finland.\nOBJECTIVE\nMATERIAL AND METHODS\nRESULTS\nCONCLUSIONS
The aim of the study was to examine how the percentage of subjects reporting dental fear varied in accordance with age, gender, level of educational attainment, and marital status in a nationally representative sample of the adult population in Finland.\nThe two-stage stratified cluster sample (n=8028) represented the population aged 30 years or older living in Finland. Of this nationwide sample, 88% participated. Dental fear was measured with the question: "How afraid are you of visiting a dentist?" The reply alternatives were: "Not at all", "Somewhat", and "Very much". Age-specific multiple logistic regression analyses were used to explore the associations between dental fear and age, gender, marital status, and level of educational attainment.\nOverall prevalence of being somewhat or very afraid of visiting a dentist among adults in Finland was high (37%), particularly among 30 to 34-year-olds (47%). Among men and women of different ages, 5% to 19% were very afraid and 16% to 59% at least somewhat afraid of visiting a dentist. Female gender was the best determinant of dental fear. Those with higher educational attainment were about half as likely to be very much afraid of dentistry compared to those with secondary educational attainment. Among the youngest age group, non-singles were more likely to report being very much afraid of dentistry than single subjects.\nThe fairly high prevalence of reported dental fear among adults, especially in the youngest age group, presents a challenge to dental personnel in Finland.\nOBJECTIVE\nMATERIAL AND METHODS\nRESULTS\nCONCLUSIONS
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