The vicious cycle of dental fear: exploring the interplay between oral health, service utilization and dental fear

Table 3 Dental visiting characteristics by dental fear

	Not afraid		A little afraid		Quite afraid		Very afraid
	n	%	n	%	n	%	n	%
Time since last dental visit**
Less than 12 months	2,169	56.5	456	53.3	176	59.1	311	46.2
1 year to < 2 years	682	17.8	186	21.7	54	18.1	134	19.9
2 years to < 5 years	505	13.2	113	13.2	46	15.4	112	16.6
5 years to < 10 years	237	6.2	52	6.1	12	4.0	53	7.9
> 10 years ago	246	6.4	49	5.7	10	3.4	63	9.4
Average visiting frequency**
More than twice a year	976	26.6	189	22.7	82	29.4	107	17.2
Once per year	1,051	28.6	252	30.3	66	23.7	132	21.2
Once every 2 years	559	15.2	168	20.2	52	18.6	109	17.5
> Once every 2 years	1,083	29.5	224	26.9	79	28.3	274	44.1
When expected to make next visit**
Less than 6 months	2,182	58.7	511	61.2	181	61.6	348	54.0
6 months to < 12 months	678	18.2	171	20.5	57	19.4	82	12.7
1 years to < 2 years	129	3.5	24	2.9	6	2.0	24	3.7
2 years to < 5 years	69	1.9	8	1.0	5	1.7	8	1.2
Greater than 5 years	35	1.0	3	0.3	4	1.3	4	0.7
Only for pain or a problem	626	16.8	118	14.1	41	13.9	178	27.6
Has an appointment for a future dental visit*
Yes	664	17.2	129	15.0	55	18.5	77	11.4
No	3,191	82.8	731	85.0	243	81.5	598	88.6

ISSN: 1472-6831