Dental anxiety and oral health following stroke: a pilot study

Background: Oral health is often poorer in people living with acquired brain injury relative to non-clinical controls. However, although anxiety disorders become more common following stroke, no study to date has tested whether dental anxiety might contribute to stroke survivors’ increased vulnerability to poorer oral health. This pilot study reports the first test of whether the anxiety disturbances that commonly present following stroke extend to dental anxiety, and if dental anxiety in this group is linked to poorer oral health. Materials and methods: First-time stroke survivors (N = 35) and demographically matched controls (N = 35) completed validated measures of dental anxiety, oral health, negative affect, and life satisfaction. Results: Stroke survivors did not differ from controls in their overall levels of dental anxiety or oral health, but uniquely for the stroke group, dental anxiety was strongly associated with poorer oral health, and this effect remained significant even after controlling for negative affect and life satisfaction. Conclusion: Stroke survivors who have higher levels of dental-related anxiety may be at increased risk of poorer oral health.