Determinants of positive and negative attitudes toward dentistry

Previous studies have primarily investigated the determinants of negative attitudes toward dentistry. Little is known about the reasons for positive attitudes. Using a group of university students who were surveyed during 1996, this study therefore examined both positive and negative attitudes to dentistry. It was initially predicted that dentally anxious individuals would be more likely to have negative feelings about dentistry than non-dentally anxious individuals, and would attribute this attitude to specific experiences. The study found that the majority of participating students had a positive attitude toward dentistry, and that participants with low levels of dental anxiety were more likely to have a positive attitude than those with a high level of anxiety. However, highly dentally anxious individuals were just as likely to feel positive toward dentistry as they were to feel negative. A substantial proportion of students claimed to have had painful or distressing experiences at the dentist during their adolescence. However, experiencing a painful or distressing incident was not related to having a negative attitude. The majority of the students who felt negative toward dentistry attributed this attitude to an unspecific experience, although dentally anxious individuals were likely to be more specific than non-dentally anxious individuals. Women participants appeared to have experienced painful or distressing incidents at a younger age than the men. The authors concluded that the factors involved in the development and maintenance of an individual's attitude toward dentistry are complex, and that dentists should be concerned with the promotion of positive attitudes rather than attempting to resolve negative ones.