Association between self-reported dental fear and exposure to violence among adolescents-A population-based study

The etiology of dental fear (DF) is multifactorial and involves other contributing factors than dental traumatic experiences.

To study, among adolescents, associations between DF and exposure to child physical abuse (CPA), intimate partner violence (IPV), and bullying.

We extracted data from a population-based survey of 4977 adolescents who were 15-17 years old in 2017. The questionnaire queried socioeconomic background factors, DF, self-perceived oral health, general health, and exposure to child abuse. To estimate associations between DF and exposure to child abuse, we used multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Overall, 8.2% reported DF, girls (10.5%) reported DF significantly more often than boys (5%), and adolescents not identifying themselves as girl or boy reported the highest prevalence of DF (25.5%; p < .001). 15.3% had been exposed to child physical abuse; 11.1%, to IPV; and 11.2%, to bullying. Experiences of IPV and bullying, but not physical abuse, were statistically significantly associated with DF. The odds of developing DF for adolescents exposed to any type of violence was 1.9 times the odds for adolescents with no exposure to child abuse.

Exposure to violence is associated with dental fear in adolescents.