Dental Public Health, Defence Primary Healthcare (Dental), HQ Defence Medical Services Group, Lichfield, UK.
Population Health Sciences, Bristol School of Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
Int J Paediatr Dent. 2023 Jul;33(4):372-381. doi: 10.1111/ipd.13058. Epub 2023 Feb 23.
Dental anxiety is associated with untreated dental caries. Understanding which childhood behaviours or experiences have the strongest association with later dental anxiety may help focus preventive strategies, subsequently limiting the burden of dental caries and anxiety.
The aim of this study was to explore whether behaviours and experiences during childhood were associated with adolescent dental anxiety.
Data were obtained from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Multivariable logistic regression was used to explore associations between adolescent dental anxiety and childhood behaviours and experiences. 1791 participants answered questions about oral health behaviours and experiences at 8 years of age and dental anxiety questions aged 17 years.
Children with experience of invasive dental treatment were more likely to have dental anxiety at 17 years of age than those who had not experienced dental treatment (OR 1.63; 95% CI: 1.12, 2.37; p = .011). Irregular dental attenders in childhood had over three times the odds of dental anxiety by adolescence, compared with regular attenders (OR 3.67 95% CI: 1.52, 8.88; p = .004).
Adolescent dental anxiety is associated with invasive treatment and irregular dental attendance in childhood. A history of irregular attendance or invasive treatment may serve as a useful predictor when considering dental anxiety in young adult patients. Early preventive care supports good attendance and oral health. These actions may have secondary effects of reducing future dental anxiety.
牙齿焦虑与未经治疗的龋齿有关。了解哪些儿童时期的行为或经历与日后的牙齿焦虑关系最密切，可能有助于集中预防策略，从而限制龋齿和焦虑的负担。
本研究旨在探讨儿童时期的行为和经历是否与青少年牙齿焦虑有关。
数据来自阿冯纵向研究父母和孩子（ALSPAC）。多变量逻辑回归用于探讨青少年牙齿焦虑与儿童时期行为和经历之间的关系。1791 名参与者在 8 岁时回答了关于口腔健康行为和经历的问题，并在 17 岁时回答了牙齿焦虑问题。
有过侵入性牙科治疗经历的儿童在 17 岁时更有可能出现牙齿焦虑，而没有经历过牙科治疗的儿童则没有（OR 1.63；95%CI：1.12，2.37；p=0.011）。儿童时期不规则看牙者在青春期时出现牙齿焦虑的几率是定期看牙者的三倍多（OR 3.67 95%CI：1.52，8.88；p=0.004）。
青少年牙齿焦虑与儿童时期的侵入性治疗和不规则就诊有关。不规则就诊或侵入性治疗的病史可能是年轻成年患者考虑牙齿焦虑时的一个有用预测因素。早期预防保健支持良好的就诊和口腔健康。这些行动可能会对减少未来的牙齿焦虑产生次要影响。
