Dental Anxiety and Fear: Relationship with Oral Health Behavior in a Turkish Population

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess fear and anxiety in dental patients. Five hundred patients were evaluated using the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale and the Dental Fear Scale, along with a questionnaire. Oral health status was assessed using the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT)/Decayed, Missing, and Filled Surfaces (DMFS) index. Statistic al analysis was performed (P <.05). Sex significantly affected dental anxiety (P <.05), and sex, marital status, having children, and time elapsed since last visit to clinician affected dental fear (P <.05). DMFT/DMFS scores were not related to dental anxiety or fear (P >.05). Female sex alone was a significant predictor of dental anxiety; female sex, adulthood, marriage, having children, and time passed since last visit to a clinician are significant predictors of fear.