The apparent association in the published literature of gender and age with dental fear and anxiety is far from consistent or universal. A random, age-stratified telephone survey of 398 adults was performed in a US metropolitan area: Denver, Colorado. Information collected included Kleinknecht's Dental Fear Survey (DFS). In addition to total DFS scores, values were also calculated for the sums of the five DFS physiologic response items (PATRESP) and 12 DFS fear-producing stimulus items (DENTSTIM). Tests for reliability of these three scales were performed (alpha = 0.804 to 0.936). In this sample population, significant age and gender differences were noted. In general, fear and anxiety decreased in importance with increased respondent age, with the largest difference noted between the 40-50 and 60-69 age groups. Increased fear and anxiety were most apparent among younger females (20-30 and 40-50) as compared with older females (60 and older). However, among males, the summary variable for physiologic response to fear and anxiety did not appear to be age-related. Among the oldest respondents (ages 70+), 12.2% did report a "major" response to muscle tension when in the dental chair. Females reported more fear of some stimuli associated with dental care (e.g., "feeling the drill in the mouth") than did males.

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This preliminary study investigated the impact of pet ownership on the health status of recently widowed urban middle-class women. Analysis of data indicated 1) statistically significant differences between pet owners and nonowners in regard to symptom experiences, with nonowners reporting more symptoms, especially those with psychogenic components; and 2) altered patterns of utilization of medications, with nonowners reporting significantly higher drug use. The findings suggest pet ownership may have a salutary effect on the adjustment of recently widowed women.

This study examined the relationship between dentofacial appearance and judgments of facial attractiveness in a sample of 60 subjects between ages 65 and 75. Subjects completed questionnaires regarding their current dental appearance and level of satisfaction with their facial attractiveness. Subjects then viewed and ranked four sets of five photographs that had been digitally manipulated to simulate common dental defects. Regardless of background facial attractiveness or gender of stimulus photographs, a specific ranking order for dental defects emerged with rank-order correlations in the 90% range. Findings suggest that dental appearance affects judgments of facial attractiveness regardless of gender or background facial attractiveness.

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