Review on dental fear and anxiety factors by DFS / 대한구강보건학회지

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The study on dental fear has increased recently. Studies found that people with high dental fear and or anxiety were less likely to visit dentists. The aim of this study is to review the trend of study on dental fear and to analyse the major factors related to dental fear. METHODS: Seventy four papers listed in Korea Citation Index and SCI(E) were assessed. Quality Assessment and Validity Tool for Correlation Studies (QAVTCS) and Dental Fear Study (DFS) were used in this study. SPSS 12.0 was employed to analyse the descriptive statistics, t-test and Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) with stepwise. RESULTS: The total mean score of QAVTCS for international studies was significantly higher than domestic studies (P=.001). The mean scores of item, 'Seeing the anesthetic needle' and 'Feeling the anesthetic needle', were severe level (Means= 3.05, 3.14, severe>3.00). According to the MLR, the powerful predisposing factors (independent variable) on 'Overall fear of dentistry (dependent variable)' were 'Hearing the drill' (P<.01) and 'Having teeth cleaned' (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that people had high dental fear in direct dental treatment environment such as contact with seeing anesthetic needle and hearing dental drill. Therefore, this study suggests the need to map out specific and multidirectional plan for decreasing dental fear.