Dental neglect and dental health among 26-year-olds in the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study

Objectives: To test a modification of a previously-reported six-item dental neglect scale and examine its association with dental health and service-u se among young adults. Methods: Of the 980 26-year-old participants in the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health anti Development Study, 973 completed the scale and 930 underwent dental examination. Sociodemographic and dental sen ice-use data were collected using a self-report questionnaire. Results: Fa ctor analysis showed that five of the original six items loaded on the scal e, and responses to those items were summed to give a dental neglect scale score for each participant. Scale scores were normally distributed (mean=13 .0; SD=3.6; range 5 to 25), and a median split created higher and lower den tal neglect groups. A higher proportion of the higher neglect group group: (i) were male; (ii) rated their dental health and dental appearance as belo w average; (iii) brushed their teeth infrequently; (iv) had extensive plaqu e deposits; (v) used dental services only when they had a problem; (vi) had not recently seen a dentist; (vii) had lost at least one permanent tooth b ecause of caries, and (viii) had a greater number of decayed tooth surfaces . Conclusions: Although further examination of its validity and reliability is indicated, the dental neglect scale appears to hold promise for use in dental health promotion, not only in highlighting population groups or indi viduals who would benefit from intensive health promotion efforts, but also in the evaluation of health promotion interventions.