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Summary

Objective. The study aimed to estimate the relationship between dental anxiety and past dental treatment experience in Lithuanian adolescents and to examine a possible influence of gender and area deprivation on dental anxiety. Material and methods. A total of 885 adolescents in 22 randomly pre-selected areas were clinically examined and completed a questionnaire regarding dental anxiety. Dental anxiety was estimated using the Corah's Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS). Past invasive dental treatment experience was defined as the number of extracted and filled teeth. Results. The total mean (SD) score of the DAS was 10.07 (3.20). High levels of dental anxiety were reported in 11.3% of Lithuanian adolescents. The mean (SD) DAS score among adolescents who had no treatment experience was 9.51 (3.02), whereas adolescents who had treatment experience, had significantly higher mean (SD) DAS score, i.e. 10.25 (SD 3.23). Conclusions. The past dental treatment experience and dental anxiety were related in Lithuanian adolescents. Adolescents with no past invasive dental treatment experience were less anxious than those who had such experience. Girls reported higher dental anxiety than boys, while area deprivation had no effect on dental anxiety.

Key words: adolescents; dental anxiety; dental treatment experience; gender; urbanization.

Received: 09 11 2006

Accepted for publishing: 27 12 2006

Vilma Brukiene – D.D.S., Assistant Professor, Institute of Odontology, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Lithuania

Jolanta Aleksejuniene – D.D.S., M.Sc., PhD, Department of Oral Health Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

Irena Balciuniene – D.D.S., PhD, Hab. Dr., Professor, Director of Institute of Odontology, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Lithuania

Address correspondence to Vilma Brukiene, Zalgirio st. 115, Vilnius 08217, Lithuania

E-mail: vilmabruk@hotmail.com



	Baltic Dental and Maxillofacial Journal

December, 2006, Vol. 8, No. 4 CONTENTS SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES Impaction of the central maxillary incisor associated with supernumerary teeth: Initial position and spontaneous eruption timing 103-107 Is dental treatment experience related to dental anxiety? A cross-sectional study in Lithuanian adolescents 108-115 The efficacy of non-surgical and systemic antibiotic treatment on smoking and non-smoking periodontitis patients 116-121 Apical periodontitis in root filled teeth associated with the quality of root fillings 122-126 © 2006 Stomatologija		Stomatologija 2006; 8 (4): 108-115 255 KB Is dental treatment experience related to dental anxiety? A cross-sectional study in Lithuanian adolescents Vilma Brukiene, Jolanta Aleksejuniene, Irena Balciuniene Summary Objective. The study aimed to estimate the relationship between dental anxiety and past dental treatment experience in Lithuanian adolescents and to examine a possible influence of gender and area deprivation on dental anxiety. Material and methods. A total of 885 adolescents in 22 randomly pre-selected areas were clinically examined and completed a questionnaire regarding dental anxiety. Dental anxiety was estimated using the Corah's Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS). Past invasive dental treatment experience was defined as the number of extracted and filled teeth. Results. The total mean (SD) score of the DAS was 10.07 (3.20). High levels of dental anxiety were reported in 11.3% of Lithuanian adolescents. The mean (SD) DAS score among adolescents who had no treatment experience was 9.51 (3.02), whereas adolescents who had treatment experience, had significantly higher mean (SD) DAS score, i.e. 10.25 (SD 3.23). Conclusions. The past dental treatment experience and dental anxiety were related in Lithuanian adolescents. Adolescents with no past invasive dental treatment experience were less anxious than those who had such experience. Girls reported higher dental anxiety than boys, while area deprivation had no effect on dental anxiety. Key words: adolescents; dental anxiety; dental treatment experience; gender; urbanization. Received: 09 11 2006 Accepted for publishing: 27 12 2006 Vilma Brukiene – D.D.S., Assistant Professor, Institute of Odontology, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Lithuania Jolanta Aleksejuniene – D.D.S., M.Sc., PhD, Department of Oral Health Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada Irena Balciuniene – D.D.S., PhD, Hab. Dr., Professor, Director of Institute of Odontology, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Lithuania Address correspondence to Vilma Brukiene, Zalgirio st. 115, Vilnius 08217, Lithuania E-mail: vilmabruk@hotmail.com