Fluoride use by gender, age and dental fear among patients in a private practice

The present study involved 145 consecutive self-referred patients (89 women, 56 men) at a private general practice, aimed at identifying whether differences in anxiety levels between women and men were related to self-administered fluoride prevention. Use of fluoride was assessed using a questionnaire to the use of tablets, rinse or other methods in addition to fluoride toothpaste. In logistic regression models, with fluoride use as the dependent variable, neither dental anxiety, measured by the Dental Anxiety Scale or by the Dental Fear Survey, nor age, were related to the use of fluorides. However, there was an association with gender. Thus, women used prophylactics 3.5-3.9 times as often as men. Women also expressed higher overall levels of dental fear. The probability in logit calculations for use of fluoride was highest (18%) for 30 year old women with a high DAS score. Additional surveys and research are needed in relation to the patient's cognition, attitude and behaviour towards oral disease, in order to enhance the success of preventive methods of oral disease and management of dental fear.