Toward a genetic understanding of dental fear: evidence of heritability.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Dental fear is a prevalent problem that impacts dental treatment-seeking behavior and thus oral, systemic, and psychological health. Among other important predictors, fear of pain has been shown to be a critical component of dental fear. While learning history (id est, past experience) is known to shape development and maintenance of dental fear and fear of pain, minimal work has addressed genetic etiological variables for these healthcare-related anxieties. With the aim of coming to a more complete conceptualization of dental fear, this study assessed the heritability of dental fear and fear of pain and elucidated the role of genetics in the relation between the constructs.

Methods

Participants (n = 1370; 827 female), aged 11-74 years (M = 29.2, SD = 12.2), in a

SUBMITTER: Randall CL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5388586 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature