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Abstract

ABSTRACT:BACKGROUND: Dental phobia is a serious condition with a multifactorial etiology. To overcome the negative impact of dental phobia and avoidance of dental treatment on oral health the prevalence of dental phobia, socio-demographic and clinical factors were investigated in this study.AIM OF THE STUDY: To assess the prevalence of dental phobia among adult patients consulting dental clinics in Primary Health Centers. To study the socio-demographic and the clinical characteristics factors associated with dental phobia.METHODOLOGY: It is a descriptive, cross-sectional study that was conducted on 211 patients consulting dental clinics in five different Primary Health Centers (PHCs) belong to Al Karkh district.RESULTS: The study showed that (7.6%) of patients had dental phobia. Dental phobia was more prevalent in females. The age group recorded the highest level of dental phobia was 20 -29 years old. Regarding the categories of MDAS fear from anesthetic injection was the most influential item. There was positive association between dental phobia and emergency dental visits. There was positive association between dental phobia and being unable to delay dental treatments due to painful or trouble complains. There was positive association between dental phobia and fear from blood, injection and injury. Also dental phobia was higher among patients who experienced discomfort from smelling sterilizers, seeing needles or white coats of medical staff, or hearing sounds of drilling.CONCLUSION: 7.6% of the patient had dental phobia. Fear from injection of local anesthesia was the main influential item in MDAS. Dental phobia was common in females and in younger age group.  

DOI

10.52573/ipmj.2023.180586

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