title: Dental anxiety levels in British servicemen and women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of the study were to determine: 1, the level of dental anxiety in British Service personnel; 2 whether there was a difference in dental anxiety levels across the three Services; and, 3, the relationship between number of operational tours and level of dental anxiety.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross sectional questionnaire survey of individuals attending 3 Armed Services dental treatment centres in the UK. The questionnaires were completed between February 2008 and April 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  50 patients each from the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force, selected consecutively from those attending the centres for treatment. There was a 100% response rate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dental fear as assessed by the Dental Fear Survey (DFS) and scores on a scale of fear of dental injections.
  
  
  RESULTS
  27% of the Armed Services experienced severe dental anxiety: a level similar to that found in the general population. There was no difference in the level of dental anxiety or fear of dental injections across the three Armed Services. There was no relationship between number of operational tours undertaken and level of dental anxiety.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dental anxiety is found amongst members of the British Armed Services at levels similar to that in the general population. This represents a challenge for service provision, particularly in operational settings.
authors.affiliation: Defence Dental Services, Larkhill Dental Centre, Salisbury, UK. tp.grimshaw@virgin.net
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Grimshaw
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Boyle
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Newton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology