Original Article

Year : 2022 | Volume : 10 | Issue : 1 | Page : 36 - 41

DETERMINANTS OF DENTAL ANXIETY AMONG PATIENTS VISITING A DENTAL INSTITUTE IN HIMACHAL PRADESH, INDIA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Alisha Dogra 1 Aditi Bhardwaj 1 Akshita Abrol 1 Abhishek Sharma 1 Aayushi Sharma 1 Anjali 1 Sumeet Bhatt1 Isha Sharma1

1 Department of Public Health Dentistry, Himachal Institute of Dental Sciences, Paonta Sahib, HP

Address for correspondence

Dr. Sumeet Bhatt, Department of Public Health, Dentistry, Himachal Institute of Dental Sciences, Paonta Sahib, Distt. Sirmour, HP 173025

E-mail address- bhatt.sumeet@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Dental anxiety is a known barrier in accessing dental health care and an established factor related to poor oral health. This paper reports on prevalence of dental anxiety and associated factors among patients visiting a dental institute in Himachal Pradesh, India.

METHODS:

The study was conducted on 200 patients who visited Himachal Institute of Dental Sciences, Paonta Sahib (HP) for dental treatment. Data on dental anxiety were collected using a self-completed questionnaire and were measured by the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16 at significance level of 0.05.

RESULTS:

The mean MDAS score was 9.3±4.0 and the prevalence of dental anxiety was found to be 37%. Dental anxiety was found to be higher among females (P<0.001), participants of lower age (P<0.001), and those who had never visited the dentist before (P=0.028). Dentally anxious individuals were also found to have less number of filled teeth compared to those without dental anxiety (P=0.020).

CONCLUSION:

Dental anxiety was found to be significantly associated with age, gender, and dental visiting pattern.

KEYWORDS- Dental anxiety, dental caries, oral health

CONFLICT OF INTERESTS:

All the authors declare that there was no conflict of interest in the present study.

SOURCE OF FUNDING:

Nil

How to cite this article:

Alisha Dogra, Aditi Bhardwaj, Akshita Abrol, Abhishek Sharma, Aayushi Sharma, Anjali, Sumeet Bhatt, & Isha Sharma. (2022). DETERMINANTS OF DENTAL ANXIETY AMONG PATIENTS VISITING A DENTAL INSTITUTE IN HIMACHAL PRADESH, INDIA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY: Original research. International Journal of Community Dentistry, 10(1), 36–41. https://doi.org/10.56501/intjcommunitydent.v10i1.109

Received: 28-03-22; Accepted: 27-06-22; Web Published: 30-06-2022