Abstract
P>Objective:
To investigate whether the relationship between dental anxiety and referral for treatment under sedation is explained by attendance patterns and oral health.
Methods:
Structural Equation Modeling was used on the covariance matrix of the covariates to test hypothesized inter-relationships. Subsequently, we modeled the probability of referral for treatment under sedation with a multiple logistic regression taking into account inter-relationships between the independent variables.
Results:
A direct significant association of referral with dental anxiety and attendance patterns was detected, but not with oral health status. However, oral health and anxiety were highly correlated. Also signaled were correlations between age and education and between gender and bad past experience.
Conclusion:
Referral for treatment under sedation appears to be motivated by both fear and irregular patterns of attendance. Coupled with behavioral treatments to address dental fear and attendance, sedation can be an important part of comprehensive care where curative treatments are long or unpleasant for patients.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 453 - 459 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology |
| Volume | 38 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Oct 2010 |
