Evaluation of the factors related to dental anxiety in North Indian population: a questionnaire study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20202476Keywords:
Anxious patients, Dental anxiety, OdontophobiaAbstract
Background: To evaluate the factors affecting dental anxiety level on the basis of a questionnaire in the North Indian Population.
Methods: A questionnaire based on the various factors related to dental anxiety was formulated and distributed among the various regions of the north India. We got response from 250 people, the data was then analysed and results were formulated.
Results: Out of 450 questionnaires which were distributed, a total of 400 questionnaires were received. Overall high prevalence of dental anxiety i.e. 85% was noted. More increased values for anxiety were seen for people younger than 30 years (70%), compare to that of elder people (30%). Females seem to have greater anxiety levels as compared to males (p value >0.000). Among 450 people 176 had visited clinics previously with 98 having bad experience (55.6%) and 78 people having a relatively good past dental experience (44.2%).
Conclusions: Anxious patients are often more difficult to treat, therefore the questionnaire proved beneficial in estimating factors related to dental anxiety. Young people, women and those having negative dental experience had the highest anxiety levels.
References
Moore R, Birn H. Phenomenon of dental fear. Tandlaegebladet. 1990;94:34-41.
Aartman IH, Jongh A, Makkes PC, Hoogstraten J. Dental anxiety reduction and dental attendance after treatment in a dental fear clinic: a follow-up study. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2000;28:435-42.
Locker D, Thomson WM, Poulton R. Onset of and patterns of change in dental anxiety in adolescence and early adulthood: a birth cohort study. Community Dent Health. 2001;18:99-104.
Appukuttan D, Subramanian S, Tadepalli A, Damodaran LK. Dental anxiety among adults: an epidemiological study in South India. N Am J Med Sci. 2015;7:13-8.
Raj S, Agarwal M, Aradhya K, Konde S, Nagakishore V. Evaluation of dental fear in children during dental visit using children’s fear survey schedule-dental subscale. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2013;6:12-5.
Oliveira MA, Bendo CB, Ferreira MC, Paiva SM, Vale MP, Serranegra JM. Association between childhood dental experiences and dental fear among dental, psychology and mathematics undergraduates in Brazil. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2012;9:4676-87.
Prathima GS, Gayathri K, Kayalvizhi G, Sanguida A. Use of dental anxiety questionnaire and clinical approaches: a national survey among pediatric dentists in India. J Advan Clin Res Insights. 2017;4:79-83.
Carter AE, Carter G, Boschen M, Shwaimi E, George R. Pathways of fear and anxiety in dentistry: a review. World J Clin Cases. 2014;2:642-53.
Madi EM, Latif AH. Assessment of dental fear and anxiety among adolescent females in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Saudi Dental J. 2002;14:77-81.
Liddell A, Locker D. Gender and age differences in attitudes to dental pain and dental control. Commu Dent Oral Epidemiol. 1997;25:314-8.
Zac M. Dental anxiety is very high in the republic of Kiribati. South Pac Stud. 2007;28:23-30.
Jeddy N, Nithya S, Radhika T, Jeddy N. Dental anxiety and influencing factors: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey. Indian J Dent Res. 2018;29:10-5.
