Association between Childhood Dental Experiences and Dental Fear among Dental, Psychology and Mathematics Undergraduates in Brazil
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between childhood dental experiences and dental fear in adulthood among dentistry, psychology and mathematics undergraduate students. A cross-sectional study of 1,256 students from the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, was performed. Student...
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doaj-a2ea3dd0c41949b38a460069c20709962020-11-24T21:20:05ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health1660-46012012-12-019124676468710.3390/ijerph9124676Association between Childhood Dental Experiences and Dental Fear among Dental, Psychology and Mathematics Undergraduates in BrazilJúnia M. Serra-NegraMiriam P. ValeSaul M. PaivaMaurício A. OliveiraMeire C. FerreiraCristiane B. BendoThe aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between childhood dental experiences and dental fear in adulthood among dentistry, psychology and mathematics undergraduate students. A cross-sectional study of 1,256 students from the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, was performed. Students responded to the Brazilian version of the Dental Fear Survey (DFS) and a questionnaire regarding previous dental experiences. Both the DFS and the questionnaire were self-administered. Association was tested using descriptive, bivariate and multivariate linear regression analysis, with a 5% significance level. Dentistry undergraduates reported lower scores than psychology (p < 0.001) and mathematics undergraduates (p < 0.05) for all three dimensions of the DFS. Negative dental experiences in childhood was associated with dimensions of Avoidance (B = 2.70, p < 0.001), Physiological arousal (B = 1.42, p < 0.001) and Fears of specific stimuli/situations (B = 3.44, p < 0.001). The reason for first visit to dentist was associated with dimensions of Physiological arousal (B = 0.76, p < 0.01) and Fears of specific stimuli/situations (B = 1.29, p < 0.01). Dentists should be encouraged to evaluate the dental fear of their patients before treatment. The DFS has been found to be an effective instrument for this purpose.http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/9/12/4676dental feardental phobiasepidemiologypediatric dentistryquestionnairesbehaviorundergraduate student |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Júnia M. Serra-Negra Miriam P. Vale Saul M. Paiva Maurício A. Oliveira Meire C. Ferreira Cristiane B. Bendo |
spellingShingle |
Júnia M. Serra-Negra Miriam P. Vale Saul M. Paiva Maurício A. Oliveira Meire C. Ferreira Cristiane B. Bendo Association between Childhood Dental Experiences and Dental Fear among Dental, Psychology and Mathematics Undergraduates in Brazil International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health dental fear dental phobias epidemiology pediatric dentistry questionnaires behavior undergraduate student |
author_facet |
Júnia M. Serra-Negra Miriam P. Vale Saul M. Paiva Maurício A. Oliveira Meire C. Ferreira Cristiane B. Bendo |
author_sort |
Júnia M. Serra-Negra |
title |
Association between Childhood Dental Experiences and Dental Fear among Dental, Psychology and Mathematics Undergraduates in Brazil |
title_short |
Association between Childhood Dental Experiences and Dental Fear among Dental, Psychology and Mathematics Undergraduates in Brazil |
title_full |
Association between Childhood Dental Experiences and Dental Fear among Dental, Psychology and Mathematics Undergraduates in Brazil |
title_fullStr |
Association between Childhood Dental Experiences and Dental Fear among Dental, Psychology and Mathematics Undergraduates in Brazil |
title_full_unstemmed |
Association between Childhood Dental Experiences and Dental Fear among Dental, Psychology and Mathematics Undergraduates in Brazil |
title_sort |
association between childhood dental experiences and dental fear among dental, psychology and mathematics undergraduates in brazil |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |
issn |
1660-4601 |
publishDate |
2012-12-01 |
description |
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between childhood dental experiences and dental fear in adulthood among dentistry, psychology and mathematics undergraduate students. A cross-sectional study of 1,256 students from the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, was performed. Students responded to the Brazilian version of the Dental Fear Survey (DFS) and a questionnaire regarding previous dental experiences. Both the DFS and the questionnaire were self-administered. Association was tested using descriptive, bivariate and multivariate linear regression analysis, with a 5% significance level. Dentistry undergraduates reported lower scores than psychology (p < 0.001) and mathematics undergraduates (p < 0.05) for all three dimensions of the DFS. Negative dental experiences in childhood was associated with dimensions of Avoidance (B = 2.70, p < 0.001), Physiological arousal (B = 1.42, p < 0.001) and Fears of specific stimuli/situations (B = 3.44, p < 0.001). The reason for first visit to dentist was associated with dimensions of Physiological arousal (B = 0.76, p < 0.01) and Fears of specific stimuli/situations (B = 1.29, p < 0.01). Dentists should be encouraged to evaluate the dental fear of their patients before treatment. The DFS has been found to be an effective instrument for this purpose. |
topic |
dental fear dental phobias epidemiology pediatric dentistry questionnaires behavior undergraduate student |
url |
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/9/12/4676 |
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