title: Is there a relation between dental anxiety, fear and general psychological status?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dental anxiety is a widespread problem in many populations. This problem can be a barrier to dental care and may lead to poor oral health. Dental anxiety may be related to psychological status.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to assess the levels of dental anxiety, dental fear, Beck Depression, and state-trait anxiety according to age, gender and education level in patients at the periodontology clinic in the Diyarbakır Mouth and Dental Health Center.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 231 patients (115 males, 116 females) filled out dental fear scale (DFS), dental anxiety scale (DAS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), state-trait anxiety inventory-state (STAI-S), and state-trait anxiety inventory-trait (STAI-T) questionnaires, and evaluations of DFS, DAS, BDI, STAI-S, and STAI-T were conducted according to age, gender, and education level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean DFS, DAS, BDI, STAI-T, and STAI -S were 45.64, 9.15, 13.16, 38.90, and 40.18, respectively. There was a significant association among DFS, DAS, BDI, STAI-S, and STAI-T (p< 0.05). These surveys scores were significantly higher in females than males (p< 0.05). The results of this study indicated that gender age and education level have important effects on DFS, DAS, BDI, STAI-S, and STAI-T (p< 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dental anxiety and dental fear were found to be related to psychological status (BDI, STAI-S, and STAI-T) over time. There are some patients with unaddressed psychological distress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Firat University , Elazig , Turkey.
authors.forename: Tuba
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Talo Yildirim
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Firat University , Elazig , Turkey.
authors.forename: Serkan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dundar
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Firat University , Elazig , Turkey.
authors.forename: Alihan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bozoglan
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Firat University , Elazig , Turkey.
authors.forename: Tahir
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Karaman
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Firat University , Elazig , Turkey.
authors.forename: Neval
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dildes
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Dicle University , Diyarbakir , Turkey.
authors.forename: Filiz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Acun Kaya
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Firat University , Elazig , Turkey.
authors.forename: Eyyup
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Altintas
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, Firat University , Elazig , Turkey.
authors.forename: Faruk
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Oztekin
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedodontics, Firat University , Elazig , Turkey.
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Atas
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Inonu University , Malatya , Turkey.
authors.forename: Hilal
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alan
keywords: Anxiety; Dental anxiety; Dental fear; Depression