Regularity of dental attendance in the Netherlands related to preference for preservation of teeth.

In order to study the relationship between regularity of dental attendance and the value attached to the retaining of the teeth, a survey has been carried out among 25-yr-olds in Amsterdam. The value attached to retention was operationalized threefold and was analyzed with, among others, principal component analysis for discrete variables (HOMALS). It has been found that regular dental attenders, compared to irregulars, give a higher priority to retention of the teeth than to other items, are willing to spend a larger amount of money to prevent loss of the teeth, and have a greater aversion to full dentures at both the present age and when 50 yr old. These findings are discussed. Based upon measures of association between the three operationalizations of the value attached to retention of the teeth, it is suggested that these operationalizations deal with different aspects of the attitude towards full dentures.