METHODS: Survey with Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) and Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) were conducted on 3000 dental patients prior to commencement of treatment in waiting rooms. Accumulating score of 13 or above on MDAS is defined as with DA; accumulating score of 28 or above on SAS is defined as with TA. 110 subjects who had both DA and TA were compared to 110 subjects who had DA only for their response to the therapy (therapeutic intervention). All subjects received dental service and survey more than twice. They were also questioned for the symptoms leading to their visits, level of education, family income and sexuality.
RESULTS: 78.67% of this sampled population had DA based on their MDAS score; 26.67% were with TA according to their SAS score; 23.40% had both DA and TA. A correlation was found between DA and TA (p<0.005). Patients with DA but without TA showed greater reduction in MDAS scores after therapeutic intervention comparing to patients with both DA and TA (p<0.05). Women were more often with DA than men. No significant correlation between level of education or income and DA was found.
CONCLUSIONS: Patients attending dental service are frequently with DA, particularly in female population. Simple therapeutic intervention could be beneficial, but patients with DA and TA were significantly more resistant to treatment comparing to patients with DA only.