Oral Health and Dental Anxiety in a German Practice-based Sample

Authors

Arndt Guentsch, Marquette UniversityFollow
Christiane Stier, Jena University Hospital
Gregor F. Raschke, Friedrich Schiller University of JenaFollow
Andre Peisker, Friedrich Schiller University of JenaFollow
Mina D. Fahmy, Marquette UniversityFollow
Harald Kuepper, Jena University Hospital
Ina Schueler, Jena University Hospital

Document Type

Article

Language

eng

Publication Date

6-2017

Publisher

Elsevier

Source Publication

Clinical Oral Investigations

Source ISSN

0022-0345

Abstract

Objective

Does dental anxiety have an effect on dental and periodontal health?

Methods

Survey data was collected from n = 200 adults (53 % females, average age 49 years) in a cross-sectional study. Dental anxiety was measured with the modified dental anxiety scale (MDAS, score 1–5, the greater the score, the greater the anxiety). Clinical parameters including probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), plaque index (SLI), and bleeding on probing (BoP) as well as the DMFT index were recorded and statistically analyzed.

Results

Rating of dental anxiety was higher in women than in men (65 vs 35 %). Subjects with higher MDAS values visited the dentist less frequently (p = 0.001) and had more decay (DT 6.7 ± 4.2 vs 1.7 ± 2.4; p < 0.001) but fewer filled teeth than subjects with lower ratings of dental anxiety (FT 7.1 ± 4.5 vs 9.8 ± 5.7; p = 0.042). There were no differences in PD or CAL between subjects with or without dental anxiety, while patients with higher MDAS value showed significantly more BoP (50 ± 19 vs 34 ± 20 %; p = 0.002) than patients with low MDAS scores (no or low dental anxiety).

Conclusions

Patients with higher ratings of dental anxiety had significantly more caries experience and gingivitis. Therefore, dental anxiety is associated with negative effect on dental and periodontal health.

Clinical relevance

Identifying patients with high dental anxiety and helping to manage this anxiety has important implications to improve oral health in adults. The MDAS appears to be an easy and efficient tool that can be used to identify patients with dental anxiety in dental practices.

Comments

Accepted version. Clinical Oral Investigations, Vol. 21, No. 5 (June 2017): 1675-1680. DOI. © 2017 Elsevier. Used with permission.

Recommended Citation

Guentsch, Arndt; Stier, Christiane; Raschke, Gregor F.; Peisker, Andre; Fahmy, Mina D.; Kuepper, Harald; and Schueler, Ina, "Oral Health and Dental Anxiety in a German Practice-based Sample" (2017). School of Dentistry Faculty Research and Publications. 212.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/dentistry_fac/212