Effect of Dentist-patient Relationship on Dental Anxiety Among Young Adults

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of dentist-patient relationship on dental anxiety among Sudanese young adult patients.
Methods: 864 patients (51.16% males, 48.84% females) were recruited for this study, with an age range of 18-24 years old. The Corah Scale was the instrument used for evaluation.
Results: 22.2% reported high dental anxiety, 29.5% moderate and 48.3% had low dental anxiety. There were statistically significant relationships between dental anxiety and gender, time-lapse since previous dental visit (P < 0.004), as well as the reasons for the previous visit (P < 0.001). In addition, the layout of the dental clinic (P<0.002), the waiting area (P<0.001) and the overhearing of pain expressed by other patients (P< 0.001) were also statistically significant. Negative comments by the treating dentist had a statistically significant impact (P<0.032). On the other hand, clear explanation of the related dental care (p< 0.008), as well as the allowance of adequate time to discuss own oral health (p < 0.006) also had significantly positive effects.
Conclusions: Patient dentist relationship, clinic layout, time spent in the waiting area, hearing patients in pain, smell and the sound of the air-rotatory instruments; the reason for the dental visit and the time lapse since the previous visit, had a significant impact on anxiety; which may form barriers to the delivery of oral health care and the improvement of the standards of oral health in dentally anxious patients.