Dental anxiety before removal of a third molar and association with general trait anxiety.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to evaluate dental anxiety in patients consulting for third molar removal, and to assess possible relationships with general trait anxiety.


METHODS
Dental anxiety was measured using Corah's Anxiety Scale (DAS), the Dental Fear Survey (DFS), and the state anxiety scale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Trait anxiety was measured with the trait anxiety scale of the STAI.


RESULTS
Trait anxiety showed significant positive correlations with both DAS score and DFS score. The 3 measures of dental anxiety all showed significant positive correlations with each other. The difference between men and women was only statistically significant in the case of trait anxiety.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that trait anxiety may be a useful predictor of a patient's predisposition to dental anxiety.
Lago-Méndez
Lucía
L
Oral Surgery and Oral Medicine Unit, Dental School, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Diniz-Freitas
Marcio
M
Senra-Rivera
Carmen
C
Seoane-Pesqueira
Gloria
G
Gándara-Rey
José-Manuel
JM
Garcia-Garcia
Abel
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000601:surgery; D010555:Personality Inventory; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012737:Sex Factors; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000523:psychology*