Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39676271›Full record

ArticleCommunity dentistry and oral epidemiology2025

Psychosocial Determinants of Poor Dental Attendance Among Young Mexican-Identifying Adults in California.

Aachal Devi, Lourdes S Martinez, Donna Kritz-Silverstein, Jerel P Calzo, David R Strong, Kristin S Hoeft, Tracy L Finlayson

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Community dentistry and oral epidemiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Aachal DeviHealth Promotion and Behavioral Science, School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA.
Lourdes S MartinezSchool of Communication, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA.
Donna Kritz-SilversteinHerbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Longevity Science and Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, La Jolla, California, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-0872-636X
Jerel P CalzoHealth Promotion and Behavioral Science, School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-4656-1052
David R StrongHerbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.
Kristin S HoeftPreventive and Restorative Dental Science, School of Dentistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-6642-3231
Tracy L FinlaysonHealth Management and Policy, School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-2457-4183

Funding

COORDINATING CENTER TO HELP ELIMINATE/REDUCE ORAL HEALTH INEQUALITIES IN CHILDRENU01DE025507 · NIDCR · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · PI GANSKY, STUART A · 2015 to 2020
$11.9M
Building Capacity and Infrastructure for Population Health and Health Disparities Research at San Diego State UniversityS21MD010690 · NIMHD · SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY · PI AYALA, GUADALUPE X, CASTILLO, JOSE E · 2016 to 2020
$10.0M
Developing an Oral Health Behavior Social Support Scale for Mexican-origin AdultsR01DE026742 · NIDCR · SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY · PI FINLAYSON, TRACY LEE · 2017 to 2020
$2.9M
NIDCR NIH HHS R01 DE026742NIDCR NIH HHS R01DE026742NIDCR NIH HHS U01 DE025507NIDCR NIH HHS U01DE025507NIMHD NIH HHS S21 MD010690
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveEngagement in preventive dental care is a complex health behaviour and is determined by multiple factors. The study aimed to understand the association of psychosocial determinants with poor dental attendance.

methodsSurvey data from 333 Mexican-identifying adults in California aged 21-40-year were analysed. Poor dental attendance was a composite of time since last dental visit and reason for visit. Responses of 'more than 1 year ago' for last dental visit, or 'something was wrong, bothering or hurting/emergency dental problem' as the reason for last dental visit were categorised as poor dental attendance. Psychosocial determinants including dental anxiety assessed using the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale, participant reported quality of provider interactions, and perceived social support were assessed. Logistic regression analyses examined associations after accounting for covariates.

resultsOver half (58%) had poor dental attendance. Among those with poor dental attendance, 22% had high dental anxiety, 41% perceived low quality of dental explanation, and 48% reported provider occasionally/never checked patient understanding. Participants with high anxiety had twice the odds of poor dental attendance (OR = 2.07, 95% CI = 1.01-4.22) than those with low dental anxiety. Additionally, those reporting that providers did not explain oral health status or treatments well had two times higher odds of poor dental attendance than those reporting adequate explanation (OR = 2.06, 95% CI = 1.11-3.83). Checking patient understanding or perceived social support was not significantly associated with dental attendance.

conclusionDental anxiety and poor provider interactions affect use of dental services. Interventions targeting dental staff should prioritise enhancing communication skills and checking patient understanding to improve their dental attendance.

Indexed as

Dental CareMexican AmericansAdultCaliforniaDental AnxietyFemaleHumansMaleMexicoSocial SupportYoung Adultcommunicationdental anxietydental careMexican Americans

Identifiers

PMID39676271
PMCPMC11893246

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.