Changes in dental fear among Finnish adults: a national survey

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in dental fear among adult Finns aged 19 years and over at the beginning of the study in 2000 &ndash; 2011 in a nationally representative sample. Methods:&nbsp; The study was based on Health 2000 and 2011 Surveys by the National Institute for Health and Welfare in Finland. The Health 2000 survey used a stratified two-stage cluster sampling design (N=9,922). Those who participated in 2000 (n=7,964) were invited to participate in 2011. The number of participants was 3,961. Dental fear was assessed by a single question: &rdquo;How afraid are you of visiting a dentist?&rdquo; (not at all, somewhat, very much). Background variables included were age (categories 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75+ years), gender, marital status (non-single, single) and education (basic, secondary, higher). To match the population sizes in different areas and thus forming a nationally representative data, the data were weighted based on age, gender and area.&nbsp; General linear modelling for repeated measures was used to evaluate changes in dental fear and associations with background variables. Results: Between 2000 and 2011 dental fear decreased more often than increased among adults in Finland. Change from being very afraid to not at all afraid of visiting a dentist was most common in the oldest group. For most participants, dental fear remained stable; being very afraid of visiting a dentist was more stable among participants from 35 to 54 years of age than among younger or older participants. Conclusions: Dental fear is still common among adults Finns and it seems to depend on age. As the most obvious consequence of dental fear is avoidance of dental care, reducing dental fear should be taken into account when planning and reorienting oral health care services.</p

Geological report of the Paz River basin

Appendix 13/15 of the publication "State of the environment in the Norwegian, Finnish and Russian border area 2007" (The Finnish Environment 6/2007)

Psychological distress, oral health behaviour and related factors among adolescents: Finnish School Health Promotion Study

Background: Psychological distress may affect health behaviour. We examined how psychological distress, social phobia (SP) and anxiety associated with tooth brushing among Finnish adolescents with respect to gender, school grade, parents' education, family structure, smoking and perceived general health.Methods: This study is part of the Finnish national School Health Promotion Study (SHP). The study population comprised a representative sample of Finnish 15-year-olds (N = 45,877). Mini-Social Phobia Inventory (Mini-SPIN) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) served to assess SP and anxiety. A questionnaire enquired about the respondents' oral health habits (tooth brushing, smoking), background factors (age, gender, family structure and parents' education) and perceived general health. Chi-squared tests and logistic regression analyses served in the statistical analyses.Results: About two-thirds of the girls (66.7%) and less than half of the boys (40.1%) followed the international recommendation of tooth brushing twice daily. Girls reported possible problems with SP and GAD more often than boys did. Those reporting possible problems with SP or moderate or severe anxiety brushed their teeth at least twice daily less often than did those reporting no possible problems with SP and those with no, slight or mild anxiety. Logistic regression analyses showed that male gender (OR = 3.2; 95% CI 3.1-3.4), parents' basic education (OR = 1.5; 95% CI 1.4-1.5), and adolescents' perception of their current state of health as moderate, fairly or very poor (OR = 1.8; 95% CI 1.5-2.0) associated with not brushing teeth twice daily. Gender-specific logistic regression analyses showed that boys who smoked (OR = 1.7; 95% CI 1.6-1.8) were less likely than non-smokers to brush their teeth twice daily.Conclusion: Adolescents with psychological distress, such as possible SP or possible general anxiety, had less favourable oral health behaviour. Psychological distress indicates a greater risk for oral health problems already in adolescence.</p

Psychological Distress, Dental Health, and Dental Fear among Finnish University Students: A National Survey

The aim of this study was to study the association between dental fear, psychologicaldistress, and perceived symptoms of teeth controlled for age, gender, educational sector, andtobacco use. The data from the Finnish University Student Health Survey 2016 targeting students (n= 10,000) of academic universities and universities of applied sciences were used.  Psychologicaldistress was measured with the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation 10 (CORE-10) and the GeneralHealth Questionnaire 12 (GHQ-12) and dental fear with the question ‘Do you feel scared aboutreceiving dental care?’. The study included 3110 students. In logistic regression analyses thosewith psychological distress (measured with CORE-10 and GHQ-12) and those reporting teeth-relatedsymptoms were more likely than their counterparts to have high dental fear.  In gender-specificanalyses men with psychological distress (measured with CORE-10) and women with teeth-relatedsymptoms were more likely to have high levels of dental fear.  Finnish university students withpsychological distress and teeth-related symptoms were more likely to experience higher levels ofdental fear than their counterparts were.  The results of this study support possible commonvulnerability factors that dental fear and other psychological disorders may share.</p

Association of Dental Fear with Caries Status and Self-Reported Dentition-Related Well-Being in Finnish Conscripts

The main aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine the prevalence of dental fear among Finnish conscripts. Other aims were to study the association between dental fear and cariological status as well as their self-reported, dentition-related well-being. The study material consisted of 13,564 men and 255 women conscripts who underwent oral examinations. Of those, 8713 responded to a computer-based questionnaire. The mean number of decayed teeth (DT) was used in analyses for cariological status. Self-reported dental fear, dentition-related well-being and regular check-ups were analysed. Data were analysed with cross tables, Pearson Chi-Square tests, Fisher’s exact test and binary logistic regressive analysis. High dental fear or finding dental visits very scary was associated with DT > 2 both among women (14.6%, when DT = 0; 33.3%, when DT > 2) and men conscripts (2.3% and 10.8%, respectively). In addition, those reporting that dental health had a negative impact on their well-being and had no regular check-ups were more likely to need cariological treatment than the rest. A high education level, both one’s own and parental, was a protective factor for restorative treatment need in male conscripts. The findings of this study support the concept of a vicious cycle of dental fear and dental caries. A preventive, interactive way of work by dental teams would most likely be beneficial for dental health, avoiding the development of dental fear, and dentition-related well-being

Association of Dental Fear with Caries Status and Self-Reported Dentition-Related Well-Being in Finnish Conscripts

The main aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine the prevalence of dental fear among Finnish conscripts. Other aims were to study the association between dental fear and cariological status as well as their self-reported, dentition-related well-being. The study material consisted of 13,564 men and 255 women conscripts who underwent oral examinations. Of those, 8713 responded to a computer-based questionnaire. The mean number of decayed teeth (DT) was used in analyses for cariological status. Self-reported dental fear, dentition-related well-being and regular check-ups were analysed. Data were analysed with cross tables, Pearson Chi-Square tests, Fisher’s exact test and binary logistic regressive analysis. High dental fear or finding dental visits very scary was associated with DT > 2 both among women (14.6%, when DT = 0; 33.3%, when DT > 2) and men conscripts (2.3% and 10.8%, respectively). In addition, those reporting that dental health had a negative impact on their well-being and had no regular check-ups were more likely to need cariological treatment than the rest. A high education level, both one’s own and parental, was a protective factor for restorative treatment need in male conscripts. The findings of this study support the concept of a vicious cycle of dental fear and dental caries. A preventive, interactive way of work by dental teams would most likely be beneficial for dental health, avoiding the development of dental fear, and dentition-related well-being

Association between dental fear and eating disorders and Body Mass Index among Finnish university students: a national survey

Background: Little is known about the association between eating disorders (ED) and dental fear. This study inves- tigated the association between dental fear and EDs through body mass index (BMI), and SCOFF (sick, control, one stone, fat, food) questionnaire among Finnish university students. We hypothesised that dental fear is associated with EDs and BMI.Methods:  We used the latest data from the Finnish University Student Health Survey 2016. This survey targeted undergraduate Finnish students (n     10,000) of academic universities and universities of applied sciences. We enquired about e.g. age, gender, height, weight, educational sector and perceived mental well-being. We used the SCOFF questionnaire to assess those at risk for developing EDs. The question ‘Do you feel scared about dental care?’ enquired about dental fear. We used the chi-square test and gender-specific logistic regression to analyse the associations between dental fear, EDs and BMI controlling for age, educational sector and mental well-being.Results:  In total, 3110 students participated in the study. Overall 7.2% of the students reported high dental fear and 9.2% scored SCOFF positive; more women than men reported high dental fear (11.2% vs. 3.8%, pthe association between dental fear and EDs and BMI. Among females, when controlling for educational sector and BMI, those with positive SCOFF score were more likely to have high dental fear than those with negative SCOFF score (OR 1.6; CI 1.0–2.4). After adding perceived mental well-being to the gender-specific regression analyses, overweight and obese males, BMI ≥ 25 (OR 2.4; CI 1.3–4.4) and females with poor to moderate mental well-being (OR 2.1; CI 1.4–2.9) were more likely than their counterparts to have high dental fear.Conclusions:  Among the Finnish university students BMI in males and problems of mental well-being in females were positively associated with high dental fear. The results of this study support possible common vulnerability factors that dental fear and other psychological disorders may share.</p