The relationship between subjective oral health and dental fear in Korean adolescents.
10.17245/jdapm.2017.17.4.289
- Author:
Young Soon WON
1
;
Youn Soo SHIM
;
So Youn AN
Author Information
1. Department of Dental Hygiene, Wonkwang Health Science University, Iksan, Republic of Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Adolescent;
Dental Fear;
Oral Health;
Pain;
Well-Being
- MeSH:
Adolescent*;
Anxiety;
Dental Anxiety*;
Dental Care;
Dental Caries;
Education;
Female;
Gingival Diseases;
Hemorrhage;
Humans;
Mass Screening;
Needles;
Oral Health*;
Punctures;
Stomatognathic Diseases;
Tooth
- From:Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
2017;17(4):289-295
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: This study is aimed to evaluate the level of fear and to reduce the overall fear, thereby enabling patients to receive treatment via timely visits. METHODS: In a survey conducted by 460 South Korean middle school students, we used 453 data that faithfully responded to the survey. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to investigate the factors influencing subjective oral health and dental fear. The significance level used for statistical significance was α = 0.05. RESULTS: The level of fear was higher for upper grade, female students. The factors affecting dental fear were higher for gingival bleeding and dental pain. Regarding factors for dental fear affecting subjective oral health, lower fear of puncture needle and tooth removal tool resulted in higher subjective oral health. CONCLUSION: The study found that adolescents had higher fear of dental care when they had gingival bleeding and tooth pain. Gingival bleeding is a symptom of early gingival disease and dental pain is likely due to advanced dental caries. These results suggested that it is necessary to have a program to reduce dental fear and anxiety as well as a program to prevent dental diseases through regular periodic screening and education.
