The Analysis of Factors Influencing Adult Patients’ Dental Anxiety Level

Objectives: The objective of this study was to analyze the association between the level of dental anxiety in an adult population and such factors as: kind of dental treatment, dental experience, age, gender and education. Methods: A representative sample of 88 adult dental patients at the age of 18-71 years old treated at the University Dental Clinic in Cracow was randomly selected. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire. The level of dental anxiety was measured by the use of Corah's Dental Anxiety Scale(CDAS). Results: The mean result in CDAS was 10,2±1,8 (S.D.). 39% of patients showed high level of anxiety, 22% – medium and 39% – small. The mean result in CDAS obtained in the female group was 11,1±1,08 and in the male one – 9,0±1,4. Patients with university education scored 8,2, with secondary – 10,9 and with elementary – 9,5. Patients younger than 24 years old obtained 9,5, the ones at the age from 24 to 34 received 10,2, patients between 35 and 50 years old scored 10,6 and the ones over 50 obtained 11,7 points in CDAS. Various results were received according to the kind of dental treatment the patients were undergoing e.g. tooth preparation - 12,0, root canal treatment – 11,8, tooth extraction - 11, drilling - 9,1 and scaling - 7,1. Patients who had the specific kind of treatment for the first time obtained 11,1 points in CDAS and the ones who had experienced it before – 10,2. Significant differences (p<0.01) were noted between all groups. Conclusions: Prevalence of dental anxiety is influenced by investigated factors. Women and people with elementary education show higher anxiety level than men and people with university education. The level of anxiety is increasing with age. The lowest level of anxiety patients show before scaling and the highest before tooth preparation and root canal treatment.