Subjective well-being and dental treatment in elderly African Americans

This preliminary study examined the effect of dental treatment on psychological well-being in a sample of elderly African Americans (64 women, 43 men) seeking routine care at an urban medical/dental clinic. Scores on two scales, the Index of Self-esteem and the Generalized Contentment Scale, self-administered at initial and final dental appointments, yielded no significant differences between times of test. Dental treatment apparently was not associated in this sample with perceived psychological well-being.