Components Affecting Dental Fear in Adults: A Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

The estimated prevalence of extreme dental fear and anxiety is 40% among the adult population. Patient expressed fear of the dentist is rarely used in clinical practice to assess patient concerns. The present study was carried out to identify the risk factors associated to fear of the dentist and the frequency of visits to the dental clinic. The study comprised 98 subjects visiting a private dental clinical in Seville (Spain). Dental fear was measured: (How afraid are you of visiting the dentist? a. not at all, b. little c. a lot). Demographic data were collected assessed based on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD), while dental fear was evaluated using the Dental Fear Questionnaire (CMD). These evaluations were made before dental treatment was carried out. Results revealed that four dimensions of the CMD were considered: A. accidental care, b. attitude of the dentist, c. neglect and d. organization. Only the dimensions of attitude of the dentist (OR = 2.4 (95% CI: 1.1-5.4); p = 0.02) and neglect (OR = 5.3 (95% CI: 2.0-13.1); p = 0.0001), together with the levels of anxiety (OR = 1.3 (95% CI: 1.3-1.7); p = 0.01), were independently associated to the presence of dental fear. None of the variables were associated to the frequency of visits to the dentist. Results further revealed that the dentist dimensions of attitude and anxiety were associated to fear of visiting the dentist.