Risk factors for severe dental anxiety among medical students.
2014
Background/Aim. Severe dental anxiety (SDA) is the most severe form of dental
anxiety, thus the aim of this study was to determine the factors associated
with SDA in students of health-related disciplines. Methods. In this
case-control study the cases were students with severe dental anxiety. The
study was conducted at the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of
Kragujevac, Serbia. The participants were undergraduate students attending
lectures during spring semester 2010/2011 (n = 1,812). A random sample of 800
students was assessed for the association between various risk factors and
the severe dental anxiety. The main outcome measures were the data on
demographics, dental anxiety, habits concerning oral hygiene, nutrition,
general anxiety and (co)morbidity which were collected from the study
participants by semi-structured questionnaire. Results. Less frequent visits
to the dentist (OR adjusted = 7.02 [2.65; 18.60]) and visiting the dentist
only when there is a dental problem (OR adjusted = 8.08 [1.28; 50.93]) were
associated with severe dental anxiety. The same was true for improper oral
hygiene (OR adjusted = 4.25 [1.16; 15.60]). Factors as changing toothbrush
more frequently (OR adjusted = 0.33 [0.14; 0.76]) and having chronic disease
(OR adjusted = 0.01 [0.00; 0.09]) were inversely associated with severe
dental anxiety. The level of education of students was not associated with
severe dental anxiety. Conclusion. Inappropriate oral hygiene, less frequent
changes of a toothbrush and less frequent visits to the dentist are important
risk factors for severe dental anxiety. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke
Republike Srbije, br. 175007]
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