Current status of dental anxiety level of patients before wisdom teeth extractionat Hanoi Medical University Hospital year 2024

Abstract

Objective: To describe the level of dental anxiety among patients prior to wisdom tooth extraction at Hanoi Medical University Hospital in 2024. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 525 patients undergoing wisdom tooth extraction at the Department of Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hanoi Medical University Hospital, from April 2024 to July 2024. Instrument: The study utilized the MDAS-DEP dental anxiety scale to assess pre-extraction dental anxiety levels. Results: The study sample consisted of 38.9% male and 61.1% female participants. The mean age of patients was 31.4 ± 11.817. 31.6% of patients exhibited signs of anxiety, with a mean MDAS-DEP score of 12.59 ± 3.5. Anxiety levels increased from the point of receiving notification of extraction (mean score = 2.39) to the preparation for anesthetic injection (mean score = 2.64). The most anxiety-provoking situation was the impending anesthetic injection (17.5% anxious and 6.9% very anxious), followed by waiting for the extraction (14.3% anxious and 4.2% very anxious). Conclusion: The rate of dental anxiety in the study is quite high: 31.6% (mean score on the MDAS-DEP scale is 12.59 ± 3.5). Factors such as being female, having financial dependence, only seeking dental care when problems arise, the dental chair light, and the sound of instruments are related to the level of dental anxiety in patients