Factors associated with Regular Dental Attendance among White-collar Workers

Background: It has been reported that some factors associated with regular dental attendance. Meanwhile, few reports have discussed a relationship between work environment, lifestyle and oral hygiene behaviour. Aim: To identify factors associated with regular dental attendance among white-collar workers. Method: This cross-sectional internet-based survey was conducted to identify factors associated with regular dental attendance among white-collar workers. The participants were asked to complete a self-reported questionnaire. A total of 834 daytime-only workers and 109 night-shift workers aged 30 to 69 years were analysed. Result: Work environment, lifestyle and oral hygiene behaviour were included in the analysis. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the relationship between these factors and regular dental attendance. As a result, significant differences were observed with the following parameters after adjusting for possible confounding factors: duration of eating breakfast (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.72; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.285–2.297), brushing before bed time (AOR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.302–2.263), duration of brushing teeth (AOR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.188–2.046), shift work (AOR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.067–2.261)and My job is worth doing (AOR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.129–1.993). Conclusion: These results indicate that work environment, lifestyle and oral hygiene behaviour are associated with regular dental attendance. In particular, shift work and work stress was associated with regular dental attendance with regard to work environment. Therefore, health care providers might be able to promote dental attendance by informing workers that the work environment, lifestyle and oral hygiene behaviour might be associated with regular dental attendance.