Five years’ follow-up of dental fear and anxiety, experience of dental care and oral health behaviour in Swedish preterm and full-term adolescents

Abstract

BackgroundThere is rising concern about how preterm birth affects long-term health later in life. The various effects that preterm birth have on developmental outcomes, cognitive profiles and medical health may also affect levels of cooperation in the dental care situation in addition to general oral health and other oral health-related habits. Oral health is an integral part of one’s general health and well-being; however, less is known about how prematurity affects oral health and other related areas such as dental care, and including dental fear and anxiety (DFA) in individuals during adolescence and adulthood. This is considered of special interest to study, as preterm children during the preschool and school period were reported to have behavioural problems during dental treatments and less than favourable oral hygiene.MethodsA questionnaire was used of self-report design and structured into behavioural aspects relating to dental treatment, oral health-related factors, and medical health. This questionnaire at 17–19 years of age was a follow-up from 12 to 14 years of age and considered a predictor for planning future dental care for this group of patients. The 145 participating adolescents were all preterm, born between 23 and 32 weeks of gestation and 140 full-term controls, born ≥37 weeks of gestation.ResultsDental fear and anxiety, oral health behaviour, and intake of sweets and sugary drinks of 17–19-year old adolescents born preterm was comparable to that of the full-term control group. Medical health problems as well as the intake of sweets and sugary drinks increased from the time of early adolescence to late adolescence in both groups.ConclusionsPreterm as well as full-term adolescents between 17 and 19 years of age are satisfied with their dental care and display low prevalence of dental fear and anxiety (DFA). The findings in this study indicate that adolescents born very preterm and extremely preterm are well prepared for transition to dental care in adult life with expectations of being able to take responsibility for their oral health.

Temporomandibular pain in adolescents with a history of preterm birth

“…A list of other questions used in this study can be found in Table . However, the questionnaire also contained other items with focus on dental fear, experience of dental care and oral health behaviour …”

“…21 However, the questionnaire also contained other items with focus on dental fear, experience of dental care and oral health behaviour. 22 The questionnaire included also the Swedish version of Beck Youth Inventories (BYI) 23 includes five self-report inventories for individuals between 7 and 18 years. In a study from 2009, the BYI showed good internal consistency and test-retest stability.…”

Factors Associated to Non-Attendance to Dental Care among Adolescents—Suggesting a Model

“…Psychology Mejare, 2007;Vingilis, Wade, & Seeley, 2007). The connection between general health, disabilities, and oral health is well-known (Blomqvist, Holmberg, Fernell, Ek, & Dahllof, 2006;Brogardh-Roth et al, 2017;Carlsson, Hakeberg, Blomkvist, & Wide Boman, 2013). Oral health problems, such as poor oral hygiene, and gingival health has been noted in adolescents with poor general health and/or disabilities.…”

Saúde bucal e grau de felicidade em adolescentes de uma cidade no sul do Brasil: análise longitudinal

“…Entre as características psicológicas dos adolescentes estão a busca de identidade, os desequilíbrios e instabilidades extremas, a alternância de períodos de altivez, introversão, audácia, timidez, falta de coordenação, sentimento de urgência, desinteresse e apatia, conflitos afetivos e crises religiosas (ABERASTURY e KNOBEL, 2008). Assim, o impacto das doenças bucais pode ser percebido de forma mais ampla, como um obstáculo para o desenvolvimento social dos indivíduos.Esses jovens, em transição para a vida adulta, passam a ter mais responsabilidade sobre diferentes aspectos das suas vidas, inclusive sobre sua saúde geral e bucal, de forma a evoluírem de recebedores de cuidados para potenciais cuidadores(BROGARDH-ROTH et al, 2017) MEULENERS et al (2003),. ao estudarem os fatores associados à percepção da qualidade de vida em adolescentes, destacaram a importância dos fatores psicológicos e sociais para o bem-estar deste grupo, além de fatores como saúde, ambiente (segurança, local de moradia, local de estudo e vizinhança) e oportunidades de crescimento.Dados relativos à adaptação desses adolescentes às mudanças e fatores que influenciam o sucesso da transição ou dificuldades encontradas devem incluir indicadores subjetivos de saúde, como a felicidade.…”

“…A felicidade pode funcionar como uma espécie de "amortecedor" para o stress associado ao período(MAHON e YARCHESKI, 2002). Como aproximadamente metade das desordens mentais têm suas primeiras manifestações antes dos 14 anos(KESSLER et al, 2005;BOLTON et al, 2016), é importante que se façam estudos nessa faixa etária a fim de promover sua saúde mental.1.9 ADOLESCÊNCIA E SAÚDE BUCAL O estudos sobre as percepções dos jovens sobre sua saúde bucal durante a transição para a vida adulta são limitados(JOHANSSON e OSTBERG, 2015;BROGARDH-ROTH et al, 2017). Os adolescentes são considerados pela OMS como um grupo chave para estudos epidemiológicos de saúde bucal(WHO, 1986).…”