42 - Dental Distrust and Anxiety: Associations with Health Care Utilization

Abstract:

Background: Dental anxiety leads 5-15% of adults to avoid dental treatment, while trust in health care professionals is linked to patients’ beneficial health behaviors and better quality of life outcomes. Prior research has examined these concepts separately, but not together.

Methods: CareQuest Institute for Oral Health’s nationally representative State of Oral Health Equity in America survey was conducted in January-February 2022 and included questions on demographics, dental distrust, and dental anxiety (Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS)). Individuals with dental distrust responded, “neither agree nor disagree,” “somewhat disagree,” or “strongly disagree” to the statement, “I trusted the oral health provider I saw [at my last visit]”. Individuals with an MDAS score > 19 had high dental anxiety.

Results: Nearly one quarter (23.6%; n=1326) of adults in the sample (N=5,682) had high dental anxiety or dental distrust. Adults with dental distrust had significantly higher odds of experiencing high dental anxiety (OR: 3.243 (2.512,4.186)) than those without distrust. Adults with dental anxiety or distrust had significantly lower odds of having a medical visit (OR:0.470 (0.351,0.629)) or dental visit (OR:0.279 (0.227, 0.344)) in the past 2 years after adjusting for demographic variables. Further, adults identifying as Black (OR:1.644(1.276, 2.118)), Hispanic (OR: 1.418(1.129,1.781)), and non-Hispanic multiracial (OR:1.696(1.152, 2.495)) had significantly higher odds of experiencing dental anxiety and dental distrust compared to white, non-Hispanic adults.

Conclusions: Dental anxiety and distrust pose a significant barrier to receiving dental and medical care and disproportionally impact individuals of color.

Source of Funding: None