title: Three factors predicting irregular versus regular dental attendance: a model fitting to empirical data.
abstract: A tentative theory, based upon the results of a survey that was performed in an urbanized village in the Netherlands, and proposing that the (ir)regularity of dental attendance is predicted by 1) dental anxiety, 2) the family dental health pattern and 3) the preference for preservation of the teeth, has been explored with loglinear models (logit approach). It has been shown that dental anxiety in combination with preference for preservation of the teeth is significantly associated with the (ir)regularity, but the family dental health pattern has a modifying effect. The probabilities of being an irregular dental attender were estimated for the levels discernible in the two predictor variables and with the odds of irregular dental attendance corresponding 95% confidence intervals were approximated. The results were discussed and it seems warranted to conclude that (ir)regular dental attendance dependent on the levels of the variables, mentioned above, is predicted more or less accurately. A further exploration of the theory and the variables involved seems worthwhile.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003729:Dental Care; D005260:Female; D006184:Habits; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009426:Netherlands; D011336:Probability