Dental fear and its effect on health behaviour of adult patients in Lodz region

Sopińska, Katarzyna; Bołtacz-Rzepkowska, Elżbieta

doi:10.5604/00114553.1217127

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…The level of education and oral hygiene habits do not seem to be correlated with anxiety. Our results are similar to those of other dental fear prevalence studies (Sopińska & Bołtacz-Rzepkowska 2016).…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 92%

Dental Fear - Prevalence and Ways to Combat It

Stan

Voicu

2020

BRAIN

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The fear of the dentist, dental anxiety and dental phobia continue to concern the medical world, seeking to elucidate the causes, calculate the prevalence and its implications on the oral health of the population, as well as identify the most effective methods to combat it. The survey included 208 patients, who were treated and investigated, in the period 2018-2019. The questionnaire consisted of 15 questions, structured in 3 sections: socio-demographic data, oral hygiene habits and past experience, during dental treatment, with analysis of dental anxiety, using modified MDAS. The mean value of MDAS in the study group was 11.7 ± 4. Most of the respondents (80%) had medium or low dental anxiety. High levels of anxiety were observed in 20% of patients, including 12% with dental phobia. A statistically significant correlation was found between the mean values of the MDAS and sex (p = 0.030), age (p <0.0005), place of residence (p = 0.016), socioeconomic status (p = 0.040), subjective assessment of oral health (p <0.0005), frequency of dental appointments (p <0.0005) and negative dental experiences in the past (p <0.0005). No correlation was observed between anxiety, education, or habits related to oral hygiene. As methods of combating dentist fear, it resorted, somehow differentiated and personalized, to progressive muscle relaxation techniques, desensitization and cognitive behavioral therapy, the therapeutic act being carried out in a "tell-show-do" manner. These applied methods have meant the extension of the working time, but without additional costs. We consider our experience in using them as positive, with stable results and with increasing efficiency over time. Our study shows that most of the respondents were without any special fear of dental treatment, one in five patients had a high level of anxiety, and one in ten suffered from dental phobia. Middle-aged women seem to have higher rates of dental anxiety, compared to men. Practitioners need to be aware of the common occurrence of fear, in order to combat it being required knowledge of behavioral psychology and, first of all, establishing a relationship based on trust with the patient, from the beginning.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 92%

Dental Fear - Prevalence and Ways to Combat It

Stan

Voicu

2020

BRAIN

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Associations between Dental Anxiety Levels, Self-Reported Oral Health, Previous Unpleasant Dental Experiences, and Behavioural Reactions in Dental Settings: An Adult E-Survey

Peric,

Tadin

2024

Medicina

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Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of dental anxiety, its association with self-reported oral health, and sociodemographic factors in adults that are critical for improving oral health and well-being. Materials and Methods: An online survey was conducted via social media, with 1551 adults (76.5% women, 23.5% men) participating nationwide. Data collected included demographic data, Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) scores, and associations between dental anxiety, negative experiences, and self-reported oral health. The analysis included psychophysiological, behavioural, and emotional responses and avoidance of dental visits, using descriptive and generalised linear regression models. Results: This study found that the mean score of the MDAS was 9.70 ± 5.11 out of 25, 19.1% of the participants reported no dental anxiety, and 7.8% suffered from dental phobia. Gender, age, and socioeconomic status had no significant effect on the prevalence of anxiety. Although more than half of the participants reported negative dental experiences, particularly in childhood, anxiety levels were unaffected. However, those who rated their oral health as excellent or very good had lower anxiety scores (p = 0.008, p = 0.024). Among the dental procedures, oral surgery (58.7%) and prosthetic (restorative) dental treatments (15.2%) caused the most anxiety. Avoidance behaviour correlated with increased anxiety (p ≤ 0.001), as did postponing dental visits until severe pain occurred (p = 0.011). Conclusions: These results emphasise the significant prevalence of dental anxiety in adults, particularly for surgical procedures and drilling, posing challenges in patient management. Tailored strategies are essential to reduce anxiety, improve patient well-being, and optimise dental service delivery and treatment efficacy.

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Dental fear and its effect on health behaviour of adult patients in Lodz region

Cited by 2 publications

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Dental Fear - Prevalence and Ways to Combat It

Dental Fear - Prevalence and Ways to Combat It

Associations between Dental Anxiety Levels, Self-Reported Oral Health, Previous Unpleasant Dental Experiences, and Behavioural Reactions in Dental Settings: An Adult E-Survey

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