Dental neglect and dental health among 26-year-olds in the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study.
OBJECTIVE
To test a modification of a previously-reported six-item dental neglect scale and examine its association with dental health and service-use among young adults.


METHODS
Of the 980 26-year-old participants in the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study, 973 completed the scale and 930 underwent dental examination. Sociodemographic and dental service-use data were collected using a self-report questionnaire.


RESULTS
Factor analysis showed that five of the original six items loaded on the scale, and responses to those items were summed to give a dental neglect scale score for each participant. Scale scores were normally distributed (mean=13.0; SD=3.6; range 5 to 25), and a median split created higher and lower dental neglect groups. A higher proportion of the higher neglect group group: (i) were male; (ii) rated their dental health and dental appearance as below average; (iii) brushed their teeth infrequently; (iv) had extensive plaque deposits; (v) used dental services only when they had a problem; (vi) had not recently seen a dentist; (vii) had lost at least one permanent tooth because of caries, and (viii) had a greater number of decayed tooth surfaces.


CONCLUSIONS
Although further examination of its validity and reliability is indicated, the dental neglect scale appears to hold promise for use in dental health promotion, not only in highlighting population groups or individuals who would benefit from intensive health promotion efforts, but also in the evaluation of health promotion interventions.
Thomson
W M
WM
Department of Oral Health, School of Dentistry, Dunedin, New Zealand. mthomson@gandalf.otago.ac.nz
Locker
D
D
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000150:complications; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000145:classification; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D009909:Oral Health; D009911:Oral Hygiene Index; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000145:classification*; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000209:etiology; D014099:Toothbrushing