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08:47
Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
Personality and oral health
W Murray Thomson1, Avshalom Caspi, Richie Poulton
1Department of Oral Sciences, Sir John Walsh Research Institute, School of Dentistry, The University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. murray.thomson@otago.ac.nz
European Journal of Oral Sciences
|September 8, 2011
Summary
Negative emotionality in personality is linked to poorer oral health and increased risk of dental caries. Interventions targeting personality traits may aid preventive dentistry.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Dental Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Personality traits assessed in early adulthood can influence long-term health outcomes.
- Oral health is a significant component of overall well-being, affected by various factors.
- Prospective cohort studies are crucial for understanding developmental trajectories of health and behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between personality characteristics at age 26 and oral health at age 32.
- To determine if specific personality dimensions predict self-reported and clinically assessed oral health status.
- To explore the potential of personality-targeted interventions in preventive dentistry.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study of 916 individuals from a complete birth cohort in Dunedin, New Zealand.
- Personality assessed using the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire (MPQ).
- Oral health evaluated via the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) and dental examinations.
Main Results:
- Higher Negative Emotionality scores were associated with increased reporting of oral health impacts (OHIP-14).
- Negative Emotionality predicted worse self-reported oral health and higher risk of tooth loss due to caries.
- Personality traits were identified as a risk factor for clinical dental caries and its consequences.
Conclusions:
- Personality characteristics significantly influence self-perceptions of oral health.
- Specific personality traits, particularly Negative Emotionality, are risk factors for clinical oral disease.
- Cognitive interventions targeting personality traits show promise for improving preventive dentistry strategies.
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