Factors Associated with Dental Anxiety among College Students of Birtamode municipality-Jhapa, Nepal

Abstract

Background: Dental anxiety is an unpleasant poorly defined or not immediately present dental stimulus accompanied by a strong feeling that something harmful usually within a dental context is about to happen. Dental anxiety can result in withdrawal from the regular dental visit, and hesitation in utilizing and seeking dental care and services. All this impact the oral health and hygiene of an individual contributing to oral health-related quality of life.

Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 568 college students from five different colleges in Birtamode municipality, Jhapa. Similarly, Purposive sampling was used for the selection of college; a proportionate method was used for the selection of a number of students from each college, and simple random sampling was used for the selection of several respondents from each college.

Results: Among 568 respondents, the prevalence of high dental anxiety was 8.1%. Out of the total respondents, 53% (95% C.I, 0.291-0.985) of males were more dentally anxious than that females and were statistically significant (p-value 0.042). The respondents of the age group 22-25 are 1.99 times (95% C.I, 0.844-4.739) more likely to have high dental anxiety as compared to the age group of 22-25 but were not statistically significant (p-value 0.109). The respondents who have visited the dentist once in six months have 77% lower dental anxiety (95% C.I, 0.022-2.400) also, those who visited the dentist once in a year have 64% lower dental anxiety (95% C.I, 0.080-1.672) and those who visited the dentist rarely have 44% lower dental anxiety (95% C.I, 0.158-1.992) as compared to those who visited the dentist once in a three month. All of these have no association with dental anxiety (p-value 0.220, 0.195, 0.371 respectively).

Conclusion: This research reveals the profound influence of anxiety on students' dental experiences. To address this issue, effective strategies like patient education, relaxation techniques, and sedation options should be implemented for improved oral health outcomes and patient satisfaction. More research is needed to explore additional interventions and assess their long-term effectiveness.

Keywords: Dental anxiety; Prevalence; Risk factor.