Dental Fear and Anxiety in the Hungarian-Slovakian Border Region

Objectives: Our previous study indicated high dental fear and anxiety scores of Hungarians living as a minority in Romania. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate whether Hungarians living as a minority in Slovakia also score higher on dental fear related and anxiety scales or not. Methods: In this study 201 volunteers (n = 201, inside border Hungarian: 144, outside border Hungarian: 57, male: 90, female 111, age: 8-83 years, mean 44 ± 16 yrs.) were investigated. Demographic data of the subjects were collected and Hungarian versions of dental fear scales (DAS, DAQ, DASQ, DFS) a scale about patients' beliefs related to dentist (DBS), a scale about patients' expectations about dental fear of their surrounding people (Expectation Scale) and anxiety scales (STAI-S, STAI-T) were administered. Results: Mean values of the scales were: DAS: 10,34 ±3,54; DAQ: 2,3 ±1,15; DASQ: 12,58 ±4,55; DFS: 40,37 ±15,67; DBS: 32,89 ±12,94; Expectation Scale: 2,87 ±3,56; STAI-S: 39,51 ±10,68; STAI-T: 41,65 ±9,08. There were no significant differences related to gender in any scales. Age was a significant factor of DAS, DASQ and DFS scales, the scores were highest at the age group of 20 yrs. and below. The mean scores of all the scales were higher in the case of Hungarians living inside the border of Hungary. The differences were statistically significant in the case of DAS, DAQ, DASQ, and DFS scales (t-probe, p ≤ 0,05). Conclusion: Data of our pilot study indicated that, living as a Hungarian minority in Slovakia not necessarily leads to the increase of dental fear and anxiety. This research was supported by TÁMOP-4.2.1/B-09/1/KMR-2010-0001.