title: Dental anxiety in Iceland: an epidemiological postal survey.
abstract: In this study, we examined the prevalence of specific (dental) phobia among a sample of the Icelandic population. In addition to dental anxiety we explored factors that could be related to dental anxiety. In the period 1972-73, a stratified sample of 1641 schoolchildren in Reykjavík was selected for a study on malocclusion, dental maturation and other factors. Twenty-two years later (1995), a postal survey conducted in this group looked at many variables relating to oral health, including orofacial pain, functional oral disorders, self-perception of dental and general appearance and need for orthodontic treatment. Out of 1529 individuals contacted, 1192 completed questionnaires were returned (response rate 78%). Questions based on DSM-IV criteria of specific (dental) phobia (DP) were included. Ninety-six participants reported that they had avoided dental treatment during the previous 6 months. Twenty-one respondents fulfilled DSM-IV criteria for specific (dental) phobia (DP) and 75 admitted to many symptoms of dental anxiety (DA). Specific (dental) phobia (DP) was more prevalent among women than among men. The divorced or widowed were most at risk, as were non-salaried respondents. Most respondents attributed the onset of their phobias to a specific painful or fearful experience. There was a significant difference between the total dentally anxious (TDA = DA + DP) and the not dentally anxious (NDA) with regard to sex (women--higher TDA) and marital status (divorced or widowed--higher TDA). The TDA had statistically fewer teeth than the NDA and received dental treatment less frequently.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Odontology, Institute of Dental Research, Reykjavík, Iceland.
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ragnarsson
authors.forename: Sigurjón
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arnlaugsson
authors.forename: Karl Orn
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Karlsson
authors.forename: Thórdur Eydal
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Magnússon
authors.forename: Eiríkur Orn
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Arnarson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004243:Divorce / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007055:Iceland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000453:epidemiology; D017805:Widowhood / Q000706:statistics & numerical data