Onset of and patterns of change in dental anxiety in adolescence and earlyadulthood: a birth cohort study

Objective To assess the onset of and patterns of change in dental anxiety d uring adolescence and early adulthood. Design A birth cohort study of 1,037 individuals born in Queen Mary Hospital, Dunedin, New Zealand between 1 Ap ril 1972 and 31 March 1973. Data were collected from these individuals at b irth, every two years between the ages of 3 and 15 and at is, 21 and 26 yea rs. Study members Data on dental anxiety were obtained at the 15, 18 and 26 -year assessments from 678 study members. Outcomes Dental anxiety was asses sed using the Dental Anxiety Scale. Study members with a score of 13 or ove r were classified as being dentally anxious. Results The prevalence of dent al anxiety increased from 10.6% at age 15 years to 13.3% at 18 years and 21 .1% at 26 years. Of the 31.2% who were anxious at one or mon data collectio n periods, approximately one third were anxious by the age of 15, one third became anxious between 16 and 18 years and one third between 18 and 16 yea rs. High rates of remission were observed. Of 72 study members who were den tally anxious at 15 years, 22% were persistent cases, anxious at all three data collection points; 24% were recurrent cases, anxious at 26 but not anx ious at 18 years: and 54% were remitted cases, no longer anxious at 26 year s. There were no gender differences in the onset and course of dental anxie ty over the developmental periods observed. Conclusions The period of obser vation was one of instability with respect to anxiety about dental treatmen t. Early adulthood in particular appeared to be a life stage during which t his population was vulnerable to the onset of dental anxiety. This may be r elated to dental disease and treatment factors, or changing psychological s tates during significant life transitions.