Assessment of Dental Anxiety Levels of Adult Patients Attending the Department of Periodontology: an Analytical Study Shwetambari Navale R1, Nihal Devkar D2,*, Dheeraj Kalra D3, Lele Suresh V4, Ansari Muniba M5, Kaulgud Anupam5 1PG Student, Department of Periodontology, Sinhgad Dental College and Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India 2Professor, Department of Periodontology, Sinhgad Dental College and Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India 3Sr Lecturer and Incharge, Department of Public Health Dentistry, YMT Dental College and Hospital, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai 4Professor and Head of Department, Department of Periodontology, Sinhgad Dental College and Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India 5PG Student, Department of Periodontology, Sinhgad Dental College and Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India *Corresponding author: Dr. Dheeraj D Kalra, Snr. Lecturer and Incharge, Department of Public Health Dentistry, YMT Dental College and Hospital, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, Phone: +91 8806252969 Email: drdhrj@gmail.com
Online published on 7 March, 2016. Abstract Purpose/Objectives Dental anxiety afflicts a significant portion of people of all ages and from different social classes and often results in poor oral health. The objectives of present study were to measure the dental anxiety level of adult patients attending department of Periodontology, Sinhgad Dental College and Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India as response to various periodontal procedures and to correlate the dental anxiety levels associated with periodontal procedures with demographic factors like age, gender, Socio Economic Status (SES), frequency of dental visit and past dental experience. Method All patients visiting the Out Patient Department section in February 2014 consented to complete a questionnaire consisting of Modified Dental Anxiety Scale with some questions designed and framed according to the specific procedures performed in department of Periodontology. A total of 300 patients were surveyed (all 300 responded, response rate 100%). Results An independent t test and ANOVA were used to compare dental anxiety score with age, gender, SES, frequency of dental visit and past dental experience. Among 300 (198 males & 102 females) patients surveyed, a higher Mean Dental Anxiety Score was found in females as compared to males, in younger patients as compared to older, in lower socio economic status and in patients visiting a dentist infrequently. Conclusion A higher MDAS was observed in females as compared to males, in younger patients as compared to older, in lower socio economic status and in patients visiting a dentist infrequently. Top Keywords Dental anxiety, age, gender. Top |