Dental fear among population aged 30 years and older in Finland.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to examine how the percentage of subjects reporting dental fear varied in accordance with age, gender, level of educational attainment, and marital status in a nationally representative sample of the adult population in Finland.


METHODS
The two-stage stratified cluster sample (n=8028) represented the population aged 30 years or older living in Finland. Of this nationwide sample, 88% participated. Dental fear was measured with the question: "How afraid are you of visiting a dentist?" The reply alternatives were: "Not at all", "Somewhat", and "Very much". Age-specific multiple logistic regression analyses were used to explore the associations between dental fear and age, gender, marital status, and level of educational attainment.


RESULTS
Overall prevalence of being somewhat or very afraid of visiting a dentist among adults in Finland was high (37%), particularly among 30 to 34-year-olds (47%). Among men and women of different ages, 5% to 19% were very afraid and 16% to 59% at least somewhat afraid of visiting a dentist. Female gender was the best determinant of dental fear. Those with higher educational attainment were about half as likely to be very much afraid of dentistry compared to those with secondary educational attainment. Among the youngest age group, non-singles were more likely to report being very much afraid of dentistry than single subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
The fairly high prevalence of reported dental fear among adults, especially in the youngest age group, presents a challenge to dental personnel in Finland.
Lahti
Satu
S
Department of Community Dentistry, Institute of Dentistry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland. satu.lahti@oulu.fi
Vehkalahti
Miira M
MM
Nordblad
Anne
A
Hausen
Hannu
H
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors