Impact of oral health and health behaviours on mood before a dental visit

Introduction
The literature describes relationships between negative emotions arising in connection with a dental appointment. Emotional processes and states thus represent factors that can considerably influence human health and oral health. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine factors related to one’s mood before visiting a dental office.

Material and methods
Seventy-eight first-time dental patients (40 females, 38 males; Mage = 40.7, SD = 14.4) participated in the study. The participants completed a questionnaire consisting of a demographic data questionnaire, statements measuring subjective oral health, hygiene, and patients’ knowledge about the oral cavity, and standardised research tools: the Mood Adjective Checklist (UMACL) and the Health Behaviour Questionnaire (HBI), prior to a dental visit. The DMFT index (DT – mean number of decayed teeth, MT – mean number of missing teeth, FT – mean number of filled teeth), Dental Treatment Index (DTI), and Approximal Plaque Index (API) were assessed during a clinical examination.

Results
Hedonic tone (HT) was significantly related to number of filled teeth (FT) (p = 0.036), subjective oral hygiene (p < 0.02), and level of knowledge about the oral cavity (p < 0.01). There was a significant correlation between HT and the HBI global score (p < 0.02) and Health practices (p < 0.01). Energetic arousal (EA) was related to the level of education (p < 0.04) and subjective factors influencing mood before the visit.

Conclusions
The study shows that the factors that affect one’s mood before a dental visit comprise education, oral health and hygiene, and health behaviours.