Gender-specific associations of temperament dimensions and dental anxiety in parents of the FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study.

Abstract

We evaluated gender-specific associations of dental anxiety with four dimensions of temperament: effortful control, extraversion/surgency, negative affect and orienting sensitivity. The sample comprised 2558 parents from the general population participating in the FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study. Dental anxiety was measured with the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale and temperament with the Adult Temperament Questionnaire. Associations between dental anxiety and temperament dimensions were modelled using linear and logistic regression analysis adjusting for general anxiety and depressive symptoms, age and education. In both women and men, dental anxiety was positively associated with negative affect (women β=1.10; 95% CI 1.06–1.15, men β=1.11; 95% CI 1.05-1.18) and negatively associated with effortful control (women β=0.95; 95% CI 0.92–0.99, men β=0.90; 95% CI 0.85–0.95). When modelling high dental anxiety findings were similar for negative affect (women OR=2.00; 95% CI 1.31–3.06, men OR=5.21; 95% CI 1.72–15.83), but for effortful control the association was no longer statistically significant. Additionally, extraversion/surgency was associated with dental anxiety in women (OR=1.50; 95% CI 1.01–1.47). Our findings indicate that temperament may have stronger role in the development of dental anxiety than psychological symptoms or disorders. The basic techniques of managing dental anxiety, such as building trust, providing control, using tell-show-do method and relaxation, can increase patient’s self-regulation and decrease their tendency to react negatively.