Anxiety Measurements among Dental Students undergoing Third Molar Removal

Abstract

Abstract Background and objective This study was conducted to quantify the anxiety associated with third molar extraction in dental students. And to compare the anxiety levels between males and females, among impacted and non-impacted groups. Methods The study included 100 dental students who reported to Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Dental Sciences, requiring mandibular third molar removal. Only those patients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were selected. The anxiety levels were evaluated based on the scores of the Corah's Dental Anxiety Scale. Results Results showed scores among female patients was higher than males; however the difference between male and female patients was statistically not significant. Among impacted and non-impacted groups score was higher among the impacted group, but the difference between impacted and non-impacted groups was statistically not significant too. Conclusion To conclude, maxillofacial surgeons should consider patients who visit dental offices for third molar impaction surgery as most prone to anxiety which could either result from conditioning or learned responses from their peers. Noteworthy, prior awareness of the patient's psychologic makeup and susceptibility to anxiety may be of value, thus enabling appropriate therapy and improved recovery postoperatively.