Dental anxiety: a comparison of students of dentistry, biology, and psychology

Dental Anxiety Among Students of the University of Rijeka, Croatia

Objectives

Dental anxiety is a common problem and a great challenge for many patients, but also for dentists - the treatment of anxious patients is considered to be one of the most stressful situations for dentists. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of dental anxiety among the students of the University of Rijeka and to detect possible differences in the level of anxiety among students of different study programs.

Participants and methods

This cross-sectional study included 290 students from different faculties of the University of Rijeka (Faculty of Law, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Dental Medicine), 73 (25.17%) male and 217 (74.83%) female students. The study was conducted online via The Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in 2020 and sampling was based on voluntary responses. The Student's t-test and ANOVA were used to compare differences in MDAS scores among students.

Results

There is a significant difference in dental anxiety levels between students from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and Faculty of Dental Medicine (MDAS=11.32±4.11, MDAS=8.84±3.03, p=0.01), and also between students from the Faculty of Law and Faculty of Dental Medicine (MDAS=11.47±4.64, MDAS=8.84±3.03, p <0.01).

Conclusions

This research showed that non-dental students have a higher level of dental anxiety than dental students. Sufficient knowledge of dental and oral health could potentially overcome dental fear and anxiety. Therefore, there is a need to provide additional dental education throughout the university curriculum.

To assess the prevalence of dental anxiety among patients visiting a teaching dental hospital in Lucknow, India and their self-perceived treatment needs

Image 1 Patients self assessment was a good predictor of patient dental status.

Gender Differences in Job Burnout, Career Choice Regret, and Depressive Symptoms Among Chinese Dental Postgraduates: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background

Job burnout, career choice regret, and depressive symptoms among medical students have received widespread attention. However, little is known about the role of gender in these areas for dental postgraduates. This study aimed to explore gender differences in job burnout, career choice regret, and depressive symptoms among Chinese dental postgraduates.

Methods

The data were collected from an epidemiological survey conducted by our group from February 2021 to March 2021. We used a self-administered questionnaire covering demographic characteristics, the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders scale, and the Career Choice Regret scale. Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed to explore influencing factors.

Results

A total of 558 valid dental postgraduate questionnaires were included in this study. The prevalence of job burnout, career choice regret, and depressive symptoms exceeded 30% in males and females. The prevalence of job burnout was 4.7% higher in females than in males; career choice regret was 12.2% higher in females than in males (P < 0.05), and depressive symptoms were 4.9% higher in females than in males. The multivariable analysis showed that factors associated with job burnout for males were sleep time and career choice regret for females. The influencing factors on career choice regret for females were postgraduate entrance examination score, sleep time, and job burnout. Depressive symptoms were a common influencing factor for job burnout and career choice regret in male and female dental postgraduates. Also, job burnout and depressive symptoms had the highest odds ratio for influencing factors on each other.

Conclusion

Over 30% of dental postgraduates suffered from job burnout, career choice regret, and depressive symptoms, and incidences were higher in females. A discrepancy of influencing factors existed between male and female dental postgraduates. Targeted measures should be taken to change this situation.

Estonian Dental Students' Oral Health-Related Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviours (KAB): National Survey-Based Study

The strategic plan for dentistry and oral health in Estonia of 2030 focuses on oral health promotion and disease prevention through undergraduate dental curricula and fostering public health-oriented research among students. The present study was designed as a descriptive cross-sectional study to evaluate oral health-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours (KAB) of dental students in Estonia. The study was carried out in the spring semester of 2020, and it used a modified version of the Hiroshima University Dental Behavioural Inventory (HU-DBI). A total of 129 students responded to the survey, constituting a response rate of 93.5% due to the total population sampling (census) technique used in this study and the small target population size. Out of the 124 students included in the final analysis, 79% were females, 62.1% were clinical students, 11.3% reported smoking tobacco at least once a week, and 86.3% reported problematic internet use. The present study found that mean HU-DBI score of Estonian dental students was 8.09 ± 1.22 which is so far the highest recorded HU-DBI score in Europe. There was no significant difference between female vs. male or preclinical vs. clinical students in terms of HU-DBI score. While clinical students reported less faulty oral hygiene practices, such as hard toothbrush use and aggressive toothbrushing, preclinical students reported a slightly higher mean HU-DBI score. Smoking behaviour was more common among male and clinical students, and it was also associated with alcohol drinking and worry about teeth colour and halitosis.

Dental anxiety in first- and final-year Indian dental students

Objectives

The study aims to investigate dental anxiety in first- and final-year undergraduate dental students in India.

Design

Questionnaire Study Setting: BDS Students in four University dental colleges in India carried-out during 2013 and 2014.

Subjects (materials and methods)

The students (n = 614) were assessed using a pre-tested questionnaire. We estimated the level of dental anxiety by using the Modified-Dental-Anxiety-Scale (MDAS). ANCOVA and Mann–Whitney U, and Chi-squared contingency tests were employed to analyze the extensive dataset acquired. Univariate clustering analysis and principal component regression were also applied. Students had similar demographic and lifestyle patterns.

Interventions

Assessments of the level of dental anxiety amongst undergraduate dental students.

Main outcome measures

Mean ± SD MDAS scores for first- and final-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) students were 12.96 ± 4.00 and 10.54 ± 3.41, respectively.

Results

Six hundred and fourteen (n = 614) students from four dental colleges were included in this study. In total 77% were female (n = 478) and 23% were male (n = 136). The mean age of the first- and final-year students were 18.31 and 21.54 years, respectively. First-year BDS students had dental anxiety score (Mean ± SD 12.96 ± 4.00) compared to that of the final year (10.54 ± 3.41), a difference which was very highly statistically significant (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion(s)

Dental anxiety was moderately higher amongst first year BDS students over that of final-year students but it is lesser than the dental phobic threshold level.

Dental anxiety among dental, medical, and nursing students of two major universities in the central region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study

Background

Dental anxiety is one of the most common fears that can eventually lead to avoidance of dental care. Knowing how students will respond to dental treatment will aid in increasing their awareness of oral health and overcoming this fear. The present study measured the prevalence of dental anxiety among dental, medical, and nursing students in Riyadh city, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Methods

A cross-sectional study including undergraduate dental, medical, and nursing students at King Saud University and Almajmaa University was conducted to assess dental anxiety using the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale. Descriptive statistics including means, standard deviations, and percentages were calculated. Group comparisons were analyzed using t-tests and analysis of variance. Multiple group comparisons were conducted using Tukey’s post-hoc test. P < 0.05 was considered as the significance level.

Results

Two hundred twenty-four participants completed the questionnaire. Medical students accounted for most of the responses (40.6%), followed by nursing (31.7%), and dental students (27.7%). There was no significant difference in dental anxiety with regard to gender. Dental students exhibited the least dental anxiety. A significant difference was found between students with good dental experiences compared with those who had bad dental experiences.

Conclusion

Dental students had the lowest level of anxiety and anxiety levels were affected by previous dental visits. Increasing awareness and knowledge about oral health, regular dental education, and incorporating dental knowledge into university curriculums can aid in eliminating the fear of dentistry among health sciences students.

Effects of Pretreatment Exposure to Dental Practice Using a Smartphone Dental Simulation Game on Children's Pain and Anxiety: A Preliminary Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial

OBJECTIVES

Studies on modeling a pre-exposure technique for the prevention of anxiety in children are rare, and there is no study on interactive modeling using computer games. We assessed the effect of playing a dental simulation game before operation on pain and anxiety in 4- to 7-year-old children during their first dental treatment session.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this double-blind randomized clinical trial, 50 children needing unilateral pulpotomy and placement of stainless-steel crowns (SSC) on mandibular primary first molars were enrolled and randomly divided into experimental (a simulation game) and control (no intervention) groups. The experimental group played the game twice a day for two weeks before the scheduled visit. At the dental session, their pre- and post-operative pains were recorded using the Wong-Baker Facial Rating Scale (W-BFRS). Also, heart rate (HR; as an indicator of anxiety) was measured using a finger pulse oximeter at six treatment stages: (1) baseline (at the initial session, two weeks before treatment) and (2-6) during different stages of treatment. Effects of playing the simulation on pain and HR were analyzed using t-test and repeated-measures two-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA).

RESULTS

Game playing significantly reduced the HR (P=0.031). The interaction of playing with the treatment period was also significant (P=0.004). When the groups were compared in each of the six time points, the experimental group showed reduced HR during anesthetic injection and cavity preparation using a high-speed handpiece (P<0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the results, playing certain dental simulation games before the first dental visit might reduce the anxiety felt during anesthetic injections and drilling.

Clinical Anxiety among Saudi Postgraduate Pediatric Dentistry Students in Jeddah City

Objective

To determine anxiety in relation to gender, Grade Point Average (GPA), level of education and academic and clinical situations in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Also, to identify academic and clinical anxiety levels among postgraduate pediatric dentistry students.

Methods

A cross-sectional study at governmental training hospitals was conducted. All registered postgraduate students in pediatric dental programs during the year 2015-2016 were included in the study. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed electronically to 60 postgraduate pediatric dentistry students aged between 25 and 45 years old. The questionnaire is composed of 55 questions that investigated demographic data, academic and clinical related situations including investigations, diagnosis, treatment, and complications in treatment.

Results

The study showed a higher anxiety level in younger age dental students (76.7% compared to 23.3%) and Saudi board residents (60%). Comparing gender differences in anxiety revealed that a significant difference (P ≤ 0.05) was found and anxiety seems to be more among female dental students (2% very anxious, 64% slightly anxious, and 34% not anxious) as compared to male dental students (8% very anxious, 69% slightly anxious, and 23% not anxious).

Conclusions

There was increased awareness, detailed understanding, and handling of the patients by senior postgraduate pediatric dentistry students compared to junior students.

Anxiety, Stress and Coping Patterns in Children in Dental Settings

BACKGROUND

Fear of the dentist and dental treatment is a common problem. It can cause treatment difficulties for the practitioner, as well as severe consequences for the patient. As is known, the level of stress can be evaluated thought electrodermal activity, cortisol measure in saliva, or indirectly by psychometric tests.

AIM

The present study examined the psychological influence of dental interventions on the child as well as coping patterns used for stress diminution.

METHODS

We examined two matched groups of patients: a) children with orthodontic problems (anomalies in shape, position and function of dentomaxillofacial structures) (N = 31, mean age 10.3 ± 2.02) years; and b) children with ordinary dental problems (N = 31, mean age 10.3 ± 2.4 years). As psychometric instruments, we used: 45 items Sarason's scale for anxiety, 20 items simple Stress - test adapted for children, as well as A - cope test for evaluation coping patterns.

RESULTS

Obtained scores confirmed the presence of moderate anxiety in both groups as well as moderate stress level. For Sarason's test obtained scores for the group with dental problems are 20.63 ± 8.37 (from max 45); and for Stress test 7.63 ± 3.45 (from max 20); for the orthodontic group obtained scores are 18.66 ± 6.85 for Sarason's test, while for the Stress test were 7.76 ± 3.78. One way ANOVA confirmed a significant difference in values of obtained scores related to the age and gender. Calculated Student t - test shows non-significant differences in obtained test results for both groups of examinees. Coping mechanisms evaluated by A - cope test shows that in both groups the most important patterns used for stress relief are: developing self-reliance and optimism; avoiding problems and engaging in demanding activity.

CONCLUSION

This study confirmed that moderate stress level and anxiety are present in both groups of patients (orthodontic and dental). Obtained scores are depending on gender and age. As more used coping patterns in both groups are developing self-reliance and optimism; avoiding problems and engaging in demanding activity. Some strategies for managing this problem are discussed.

Prevalence of and factors associated with dental anxiety among medical and dental students of the Northern State Medical University, Arkhangelsk, North-West Russia

The objective was to assess the prevalence of and factors associated with dental anxiety (DA) in medical and dental students in North-West Russia. This cross-sectional study included 422 medical and 285 dental undergraduate Russian students aged 18–25 years from the Northern State Medical University in Arkhangelsk. Corah’s Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS) was applied to measure DA. Information on socio-demographic and socioeconomic factors, oral health behaviour and general and oral health was obtained from a structured, self-administered questionnaire. A clinical examination was performed to assess caries experience, Simplified Oral Hygiene Index, and Gingival Index. DAS score ≥13 was found in 13.7% and 2.2% of medical and dental students, respectively. Female sex (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.11, p = 0.013), lower education of mother (IRR = 1.13, p = 0.001), and poor self-assessed oral health (IRR = 1.15, p < 0.001) were associated with DA in medical students. Corresponding factors in dental students were female sex (IRR = 1.16, p = 0.001), irregular dental visits (IRR = 1.19, p = 0.001), infrequent tooth-brushing (IRR = 1.17, p = 0.007), pain in mouth (IRR = 1.09, p = 0.031) and number of missing teeth (IRR = 1.13, p = 0.007). The prevalence of high DA was lower in dental students than in medical students. DA was associated with sex, mother’s education, poor oral health behaviour and self-assessed and clinically assessed oral health.