IADR Abstract Archives
Frequency Of Dental Anxiety Among Patients And Students Of Lahore
Objectives: The objective was to measure the level and frequency of dental anxiety amongst students in different schools of Lahore, as well as patients presenting to dental hospitals in both, public and private sectors. The self-perceived triggers and possible ways to reduce dental anxiety were also studied.
Methods: This was a questionnaire-based descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in two public sector hospitals, three private sector hospitals, and three schools on participants aged 13 and above.
The questionnaire consisted of two parts: the MDAS scale, and demographic questions, questions on self-perceived triggers and possible ways of reducing dental anxiety.
Data was analyzed using IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 20 IBM corporation, USA, New York, 2011).
Results: Our sample size was 1000, out of which 350 were from private hospitals, 350 from public hospitals, and 300 from schools. Females comprised 49.9% of the sample, while males comprised 50.1%. The mean MDAS score of the sample was 13.43, S.D. 4.56. There were 576 (57.6%) participants who were moderately to severely anxious and 143 (14.3%) who were dentally phobic. Schools had significantly higher MDAS scores than private and public sector hospitals (p=0.006, Kruskal Wallis). Dental anxiety decreased with age, and was less in males than in females. People with bad past dental experiences had greater dental anxiety, along with people who had been threatened with the concept of a needle. The most frequent self-perceived trigger of dental anxiety was unsterilized equipment while the most frequent self-perceived factor reducing dental anxiety was having the dentist address your specific concerns.
Conclusions: More than half of the sample was dentally anxious, particularly females, younger participants and those with bad past dental experiences. Dental phobia was present in 14.3% of the participants. Improved patient-dentist communication was the most important factor in reducing dental anxiety.
Methods: This was a questionnaire-based descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in two public sector hospitals, three private sector hospitals, and three schools on participants aged 13 and above.
The questionnaire consisted of two parts: the MDAS scale, and demographic questions, questions on self-perceived triggers and possible ways of reducing dental anxiety.
Data was analyzed using IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 20 IBM corporation, USA, New York, 2011).
Results: Our sample size was 1000, out of which 350 were from private hospitals, 350 from public hospitals, and 300 from schools. Females comprised 49.9% of the sample, while males comprised 50.1%. The mean MDAS score of the sample was 13.43, S.D. 4.56. There were 576 (57.6%) participants who were moderately to severely anxious and 143 (14.3%) who were dentally phobic. Schools had significantly higher MDAS scores than private and public sector hospitals (p=0.006, Kruskal Wallis). Dental anxiety decreased with age, and was less in males than in females. People with bad past dental experiences had greater dental anxiety, along with people who had been threatened with the concept of a needle. The most frequent self-perceived trigger of dental anxiety was unsterilized equipment while the most frequent self-perceived factor reducing dental anxiety was having the dentist address your specific concerns.
Conclusions: More than half of the sample was dentally anxious, particularly females, younger participants and those with bad past dental experiences. Dental phobia was present in 14.3% of the participants. Improved patient-dentist communication was the most important factor in reducing dental anxiety.