title: Dental anxiety among adult patients and its correlation with self-assessed dental status and treatment needs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the dental anxiety levels and to assess its correlation with self-assessed dental status and treatment needs of patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted at the Out Patient Department of Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan Institute of Oral Health Sciences, Karachi. Using non-probability quota sampling, the study included the first 32 patients between 18 and 35 years of age, visiting the facility. Over a period of one month (22 working days) 704 patients comprised the study population. They were interviewed using a structured questionnaire to self-assess their dental anxiety levels, oral health status and treatment needs. The data was analysed using SPSS 17.0 with descriptive frequencies and chi-square test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the total participants, 650 (92.32%) patients provided consent. Average dental anxiety scale score was 12.46, representing high anxiety score. There were 174 (26.8%) smokers; only 234 (36%) had visited a dentist less than a year ago; 385 (59.2%) considered their dental health to be satisfactory; 306 (47.1%) thought of their treatment needs to be 'little'; 222 (34.2%) brushed their teeth twice daily. Dental anxiety was statistically significant with treatment needs and dental status. Relation of tooth-brushing with last dental visit and treatment needs was also found to be significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high level of dental anxiety was observed among the study population. The dental professionals should seek ways to help dentally anxious individuals.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Ishratul Ebad Khan Institute of Oral Health Sciences, DUHS, Karachi. shahbanosyed@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Shahbano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Syed
authors.forename: Sobia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bilal
authors.forename: Narendar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dawani
authors.forename: Kulsoom
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rizvi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D003729:Dental Care / Q000523:psychology*; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014099:Toothbrushing; D055815:Young Adult