Heritability of dental fear.

• The objective was to test a hypothesized genetic component (i.e., monozygotic being more similar compared with dizygotic twins) in dental fear/anxiety by comparing the probandwise concordance. We analyzed data based on a dichotomous measure of Dental Fear/Anxiety and a continuous measure of Dental Fear Intensity from over 2000 twins, collected when participants were 13-14 years old and once again three years later. The hypothesis was confirmed, but heritability of Dental Fear/Anxiety was estimated to be higher for girls (0.77 at time 1 and 0.55 at time 2) than for boys (0.14 and 0.0 at times 1 and 2, respectively). Heritability of Dental Fear Intensity, however, was similar for girls (0.30 and 0.40 at times 1 and 2, respectively) and boys (0.47, 0.44). Studies of the etiology of dental fear/anxiety should take genetic vulnerability into account and include molecular biology measures. Possible heritability differences between girls and boys need attention.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Odontologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Dentistry (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Matematik -- Sannolikhetsteori och statistik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Mathematics -- Probability Theory and Statistics (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Adolescent

Age Factors

Child

Dental Anxiety

genetics

Diseases in Twins

genetics

Female

Follow-Up Studies

Genetic Predisposition to Disease

Humans

Male

Sex Factors

Twins

Dizygotic

genetics

Twins

Monozygotic

genetics

dental fear

Statistics

Statistik

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)