Three factors predicting irregular versus regular dental attendance: A model fitting to empirical data

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Abstract
The results of a survey that was performed in an urbanized village in the Netherlands were analyzed. The (ir) regularity of dental attendance [by patients] is apparently predicted by dental anxiety, the family dental health pattern and the preference for preservation of the teeth. This theory was explored with loglinear models (logit approach). Dental anxiety in combination with preference for preservation of the teeth is apparently significantly associated with the (ir)regularity, but the family dental health pattern also has a modifying effect. The probabilities of being an irregular dental attender were estimated for the levels discernible in the 2 predictor variables and with the odds of irregular dental attendance corresponding 95% confidence intervals were approximated. The results were discussed. Dental attendance, dependent on the variable levels mentioned above, evidently predicted more or less accurately. A further exploration of the theory and the variables involved seems worthwhile.