Dental Anxiety Among University Students and Its Correlation with Their Field of Study

Overview

Journal J Appl Oral Sci

Specialty Dentistry

Date 2009 May 26

PMID 19466251

Citations 29

Authors

Wael Mousa Al-Omari

Mahmoud Khalid Al-Omiri

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: This study was designed to investigate the subjective ratings of dental anxiety levels among university students enrolled at Jordan University of Science and Technology. In addition, the present study aimed to explore the sources of dental anxiety and the impact of gender on the perceived dental anxiety and the correlation between field of study and dental anxiety level.

Material And Methods: The Modified Corah Dental Anxiety Scale was used to measure dental anxiety among the study population. Six hundred subjects were recruited into the study from Jordanian undergraduate students from the faculties of Medicine, Engineering, and Dentistry.

Results: Five hundred and thirty five complete questionnaires were returned, which accounts for a response rate of 89.2%. The totals of the mean anxiety scores were the following: Medical students, 13.58%; Engineering students, 13.27% and dental students, 11.22%. About 32% of the study population has scored 15 or more. Dental students had the lowest percentage of those who scored 15 or more. Surprisingly, the medical students were responsible for the highest percentage of those who scored 15 or above. Although women demonstrated statistically higher total dental anxiety scores than men (p= 0.03), the difference between both genders was small and could be clinically insignificant. The students were anxious mostly about tooth drilling and local anesthetic injection.

Conclusions: Lack of adequate dental health education may result in a high level of dental anxiety among non-dental university students in Jordan. Further studies are required to identify the correlates of dental anxiety among university students.

Citing Articles

Dental Anxiety Among Students of the University of Rijeka, Croatia.

Ivancic Jokic N, Maticic L, Simunovic Erpusina M, Petrovic D, Cicvaric O, Bakarcic D Acta Stomatol Croat. 2024; 58(2):177-184.

PMID: 39036325 PMC: 11256868. DOI: 10.15644/asc58/2/7.

Novel dental anesthetic and associated devices: a scoping review.

Min K, Morse Z J Dent Anesth Pain Med. 2024; 24(3):161-171.

PMID: 38840649 PMC: 11148412. DOI: 10.17245/jdapm.2024.24.3.161.

A comparative evaluation of peppermint oil and lignocaine spray as topical anesthetic agents prior to local anesthesia in children: a randomized clinical trial.

Petluru H, Nirmala S, Nuvvula S J Dent Anesth Pain Med. 2024; 24(2):119-128.

PMID: 38584755 PMC: 10995539. DOI: 10.17245/jdapm.2024.24.2.119.

Prevalence and Socio-Demographic Correlates of Dental Anxiety among a Group of Adult Patients Attending Dental Outpatient Clinics: A Study from UAE.

Alansaari A, Tawfik A, Jaber M, Khamis A, Elameen E Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023; 20(12).

PMID: 37372705 PMC: 10298181. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20126118.

Pain perception following computer-controlled versus conventional dental anesthesia: randomized controlled trial.

Attia S, Austermann T, May A, Mekhemar M, Conrad J, Knitschke M BMC Oral Health. 2022; 22(1):425.

PMID: 36138388 PMC: 9502910. DOI: 10.1186/s12903-022-02454-1.

References

LAUTCH H . Dental phobia. Br J Psychiatry. 1971; 119(549):151-8. DOI: 10.1192/bjp.119.549.151. View

MOORE R, Brodsgaard I, Birn H . Manifestations, acquisition and diagnostic categories of dental fear in a self-referred population. Behav Res Ther. 1991; 29(1):51-60. DOI: 10.1016/s0005-7967(09)80007-7. View

Freeman R . A psychodynamic theory for dental phobia. Br Dent J. 1998; 184(4):170-2. DOI: 10.1038/sj.bdj.4809570. View

Freeman R . The psychology of dental patient care. 9. Communicating effectively: some practical suggestions. Br Dent J. 1999; 187(5):240-4. DOI: 10.1038/sj.bdj.4800251. View

Locker D, Liddell A, Burman D . Dental fear and anxiety in an older adult population. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 1991; 19(2):120-4. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0528.1991.tb00125.x. View

Woolgrove J, Cumberbatch G . Dental anxiety and regularity of dental attendance. J Dent. 1986; 14(5):209-13. DOI: 10.1016/0300-5712(86)90003-5. View

Locker D, Shapiro D, Liddell A . Negative dental experiences and their relationship to dental anxiety. Community Dent Health. 1996; 13(2):86-92. View

Frazer M, Hampson S . Some personality factors related to dental anxiety and fear of pain. Br Dent J. 1988; 165(12):436-9. DOI: 10.1038/sj.bdj.4806676. View

Weinstein P, Smith T, Bartlett R . A study of the dental student-patient relationship. J Dent Res. 1973; 52(6):1287-92. DOI: 10.1177/00220345730520062201. View

10.

Aartman I, de Jongh A, van der Meulen M . Psychological characteristics of patients applying for treatment in a dental fear clinic. Eur J Oral Sci. 1997; 105(5 Pt 1):384-8. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0722.1997.tb02134.x. View

11.

Kent G . Anxiety, pain and type of dental procedure. Behav Res Ther. 1984; 22(5):465-9. DOI: 10.1016/0005-7967(84)90049-4. View

12.

Humphris G, Morrison T, Lindsay S . The Modified Dental Anxiety Scale: validation and United Kingdom norms. Community Dent Health. 1995; 12(3):143-50. View

13.

Eli I . Dental anxiety: a cause for possible misdiagnosis of tooth vitality. Int Endod J. 1993; 26(4):251-3. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2591.1993.tb00567.x. View

14.

Quteish Taani D . Dental fear among a young adult Saudian population. Int Dent J. 2001; 51(2):62-6. DOI: 10.1002/j.1875-595x.2001.tb00823.x. View

15.

Dohrenwend B, Dohrenwend B . Social and cultural influences on psychopathology. Annu Rev Psychol. 1974; 25:417-52. DOI: 10.1146/annurev.ps.25.020174.002221. View

16.

Lindsay S, Humphris G, Barnby G . Expectations and preferences for routine dentistry in anxious adult patients. Br Dent J. 1987; 163(4):120-4. DOI: 10.1038/sj.bdj.4806218. View

17.

Quteish Taani D . Dental attendance and anxiety among public and private school children in Jordan. Int Dent J. 2002; 52(1):25-9. DOI: 10.1111/j.1875-595x.2002.tb00593.x. View

18.

Cooper C, Watts J, Kelly M . Job satisfaction, mental health, and job stressors among general dental practitioners in the UK. Br Dent J. 1987; 162(2):77-81. DOI: 10.1038/sj.bdj.4806030. View

19.

Stecker T . Well-being in an academic environment. Med Educ. 2004; 38(5):465-78. DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2929.2004.01812.x. View

20.

Corah N . Development of a dental anxiety scale. J Dent Res. 1969; 48(4):596. DOI: 10.1177/00220345690480041801. View