Dental anxiety and dental avoidance among 12 to 18 year olds in Norway

The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence and possible explanator y factors of dental avoidance due to dental anxiety among 12 to is year old s treated within the Norwegian Public Dental Service. A total of 754 20-yr- olds completed a questionnaire and three psychometric scales, the Dental Fe ar Scale (DFS), the Dental Beliefs Survey (DBS) and the Geer Fear Scale (GF S), and gave their consent to collect data from their dental records. A tot al of 169 subjects (22.4%) had high dental anxiety (DFS > 59 or DBS > 47 at age 20 yr), and 124 subjects (16.4%) had high frequency of missed/cancelle d appointments (20% or more) during the period 12-18 yr. Forty-seven subjec ts (6.2%) fulfilling both of the above criteria constituted the dental avoi dance group. An analysis using a stepwise regression model indicated that h aving bad more than one painful or unpleasant treatment experience increase d the risk of being included in the avoidance group by a factor of 10.9. Eq ually, adolescents who were not attending school (working or without specif ied occupation) increased the risk by a factor of 6.9, having a high caries experience by a factor of 5.0, and not having their dental treatment compl eted at the age of 18 yr by a factor of 4.4.