The influence of gender on the relationship between dental anxiety and oral health-related emotional well-being

International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 2013; 23: 180–187 Background and aim. Children’s dental fear and/or anxiety (DFA) has been associated with declines in oral health and quality of life. The influence of gender on the relationship between DFA and oral health‐related well‐being in children is analysed. Design. The decayed, missing and filled permanent teeth (DMFT) index was obtained from 161 school‐aged children (7–14 years old). Data from children’s self‐assessed oral health, oral health‐related emotional well‐being and dental anxiety were collected using questionnaires. Results. Low scores of emotional well‐being were associated with negative self‐assessment of oral health and high levels of dental anxiety. Females reported decreased oral health‐related emotional well‐being compared with males. The analysis of possible moderating effects confirmed that gender influenced the relationship between oral health and DFA. The DMFT index was not associated with self‐assessed oral health status, emotional well‐being or DFA. Conclusion. For girls, high levels of DFA were associated with low levels of oral health‐related emotional well‐being. In contrast, dental fear and/or anxiety did not influence oral health‐related emotional well‐being in boys.