Dental Students’ Anxiety Level, Awareness of Dental Anxiety, and Attitudes in Treating Patients with Dental Anxiety

Abstract

Background: Successful treatment of patients with dental anxiety requires particular attitudes and knowledge. Dentists who have severe stress, inadequate knowledge, or less sensitivity to anxious patients may affect the success of the treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the general anxiety level and occupational perceptions of the final-year dental students and their attitudes to and knowledge level about anxious patients.Methods: The anxiety levels of the dental students were assessed by the Beck Anxiety Inventory. A questionnaire that evaluated professional perceptions, dental anxiety awareness, attitude, and knowledge level was conducted. The answers between the groups were compared, and differences were assessed statistically.Results: One hundred fifty-nine final-year dental students answered the questionnaire. No statistical difference was found between the anxiety levels of the students. 69,2% of students agreed that patients evaluate dentists with their style or behavior rather than their perceived technical competence. Female students and the students with adverse patient experiences perceived dentistry as a more stressful profession (respectively p=0,001, p=0,003). 39,6% of students had never taken a course related to dental anxiety. 25,8% of students thought that there is a relationship between dental anxiety and wound healing, and 37,1% of students thought that dental anxiety aggravates the inflammatory disease.Conclusion: The final-year dental students need more training in managing their stress and increasing their knowledge about anxious patients. There is a need for further studies involving dental anxiety management strategies with a higher number of dental students or dentists.