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Objectives: To describe the perceived inability to cope (PIC) and impact on quality of life (QOL) in dental pain patients, and investigate their effect on perceived need for pain medication. Methods: Fully structured self-complete questionnaire survey of a sample of patients with current experience of dental pain/discomfort and sensitivity. Subjects were recruited from a dental teaching hospital’s emergency and restorative clinics. Questions were asked on pain intensity, PIC, impact on QOL and perceived need for pain medication. Results: Of 318 subjects approached, 199 (63%) completed usable questionnaires. In expressing PIC, 48.2% of the sample reported that they felt dependent on somebody else doing something about the pain, whereas 69.3% reported feeling helpless in their effort to try and do something about the pain. The prevalence of impact on QOL ranged from 55.8% reporting feeling like isolating oneself from other people to 77.9% for feeling grumpy, irritable, bad-tempered or miserable. Logistic regression analysis identified impact on QOL (OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.06–1.30), PIC (OR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.01–1.21) and pain intensity (OR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.05–1.50) as independent significant predictors of perceived need for pain medication. Conclusions: Pain intensity and PIC can enhance the ability of QOL measures in differentiating population groups into those who perceive the need for pain medication and those who do not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this study was to test whether dental injuries are related to problem behaviour. In addition, it aimed to confirm the relationship between dental injuries and size of overjet and type of lip coverage. Methods: A hospital-based matched (age and sex) case-control design was adopted. Data were collected through clinical examinations and interviews. The informant-rated version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was used to identify problem behaviour. One parent of the child, most often the mother, was interviewed. Hierarchical modelling using conditional logistic regression was used to test the relationship between the five problem behaviours and traumatic dental injuries. Results: The Odds ratio of having a dental injury increased 3.14 times if children have peer relationship problems (P = 0.032), whilst a prosocial behaviour showed a tendency to have a protective effect (OR = 0.25; P = 0.064). Emotional symptoms, conduct disorder and hyperactivity behaviours were not related to dental injury (P > 0.75). Results were adjusted by father's level of education, size of overjet and type of lip coverage, and these variables were significantly related to dental injury (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Problem behaviour may play an important role in the occurrence of traumatic dental injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A controlled evaluation of a 3-week teacher mediated dental health education curriculum package was undertaken in 35 English secondary schools in three Area Health Authorities. 4500 13-14-year-old adolescents were involved. The package emphasized self-care potential and combined a scientifically accurate message with educational and behavioural science concepts. Evaluation was at the levels of process and outcome using changes in oral hygiene recorded on a random sample (n =1491) by two trained examiners; self-complete pre/posttest questionnaires, pupil worksheets and home experiment diaries. Behavioural, cognitive and affective outcomes are reported. Significant improvements in oral hygiene status were recorded at the conclusion of the programme along with large gains in knowledge and positive changes in attitude. Long term follow-up oral hygiene examinations in six schools (n =145) conducted in conjunction with a reinforcement programme, indicated a maintenance of the initial improvements in five schools. Further significant improvements were measured after the reinforcement programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interviews investigating factors influencing dental visiting were held with a nationally drawn (England + Wales) random sample of 690 16-20-year-olds. The results presented relate specifically to the last reported dental visit, the balance of self and professional dental care, knowledge and acceptability of charges for dental treatment, factors in choosing a dentist, feelings about visiting the dentist and whether information relating to treatment or prevention is either asked of or given by the dentist. The results were found to vary by age, sex, social class and region. The implications of these findings for the training of dentists and dental health education messages are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]