Aim: Anxiety is a pattern that can occur before and during dental procedures, because of this, this study is to evaluate and analyze quantitatively the anxiety of patients treated in the dental area CESFAM Tucapel in the city of Concepción
Materials and methods: A survey was conducted based on the Dental Anxiety Scale Norman Corah. The sample consisted of 108 patients who were treated during the months of June-July 2010. The selected variables with the level of anxiety were: gender, age, previous experience and of reason. The results were analyzed by descriptive data and statistical analysis Chi-square (p <0.05)
Results: Of the total sample 68% were females and 32% male, age range between 8 to 75 years with a mean age of 28 years. 76% did not report having had a traumatic experience, 37% of the sample went on an emergency basis. Regarding the degree of anxiety, 42% of cases not reported, 28% with anxiety, 25% are very anxious and 5% reported having a dentist phobia. The statistical analysis yields no relationship between the degree of dental anxiety and selected variables.
Conclusion: The 59% of patients have some degree of dental anxiety, which is higher than other similar studies. It agrees that age and reason for consultation do not influence, however, in literature if reports a direct association between female gender and previous traumatic experience.