Dental anxiety and illness behaviour.
BACKGROUND
To analyse the relationship between dental anxiety and illness behaviour.


METHODS
Dental anxiety was assessed in 165 patients from private practice using the Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS), aspects of illness behaviour were evaluated by the Illness Attitude Scale (IAS), and aspects of general anxiety were analysed by the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Dental status was documented using the DMFS index and Bleeding-on-Probing index (BOP).


RESULTS
Multiple regression analysis (explained proportion of variance = 32%) showed that dental anxiety was significantly correlated with female gender (t = 3.109, p < 0.002) and IAS health habits (t = -2.210, p < 0.03). In addition, a correlation trend was found between dental anxiety and BOP index (t = -1.789, p < 0.08).


CONCLUSIONS
Dental anxiety appears to be a gender-specific phenomenon. Results indicate a tendency towards abnormal illness behaviour (i.e. denial of dental anxiety) in a considerable proportion of subjects and as a consequence display of poor health habits (i.e. counterphobic behaviour). The latter may lead to an increased tendency to develop gingivitis as indicated by the correlation trend between dental anxiety and BOP index.
Portmann
K
K
University of Bern, Inselspital, Switzerland.
Radanov
B P
BP
D000328:Adult; D004245:DMF Index; D003717:Denial, Psychological; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011331:Private Practice; D011594:Psychometrics; D012803:Sick Role