J Korean Dent Sci.  2017 Jun;10(1):22-28. 10.5856/JKDS.2017.10.1.22.

Factors Affecting Dental Fear in Korean Adolescents

• Kim AH
• Ahn ES
• An SY

• KMID: 2388172
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5856/JKDS.2017.10.1.22

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the dental fear experienced among Korean adolescents and to identify the relevant factors.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In order to compare the level of dental fear depending on the subjects' previous experience, descriptive statistical analysis was performed. Gender- and grade-dependent evaluation was performed according to the presence of their previous dental visit and dental fear. Subjective oral health status was also investigated. In order to determine the factors affecting dental fear, logistic regression analysis was performed. RESULT: Among the total of 333 subjects who had experienced dental fear, females were found to experience 1.766 times greater dental fear than males (P=0.007). The worse subjective perception of their oral health was associated with increase in the experience of dental fear by 1.245-fold (P=0.047).
CONCLUSION
The dental fear was likely to be formed during the visit to the dentist's office or through previous experience of dental treatment. Therefore in order to reduce the fear associated with dental treatment in adolescents, establishemnt of a proper environment in the dental clinic and a patient management program are necessitated.

Keyword

Adolescent; Dental fear; Oral health

MeSH Terms

Adolescent*
Dental Anxiety*
Dental Clinics
Female
Humans
Logistic Models
Male
Oral Health