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

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.