Correlation between dental anxiety, sense of coherence (SOC) and dental caries in school children from Bangalore North: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Very few publications report on the relationship between ′salutogenesis′, as measured by the concept of Sense of Coherence (SOC), and generally speaking an individual′s overall oral health- related quality of life (OHRQL). To add to this, there is even lesser information regarding the behavioral aspect of dental anxiety. Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between dental anxiety, SOC and dental caries in school children from Bangalore North. Materials and Methods: The study had a sample of 529 children from various schools, age between 12-16 in Bangalore north. The study comprised of 17 questions which were handed over to them; and upon receival of the questionnaire the respective decayed, missing, filled tooth surfaces index (DMFS) score was checked which was then compared with dental anxiety and SOC. Statistical Analysis Used: One way analysis of variance (ANOVA) F-test and multiple comparison procedures (MCPs). Result: High dental anxiety predicted high dental caries index and low SOC predicted high dental caries index in association with advancing children′s age from 12-16 years. Conclusion: Dental anxiety had a direct relationship with dental caries and SOC had an inverse relationship with dental caries.

Keywords

• Children
• dental anxiety
• dmfs
• sense of coherence
• salutogenesis