Abstract
Odontophobia, also known as dental fear and anxiety (DFA), is a type of phobia that can negatively affect the dental and oral health of people who experience it. This phobia has psychosocial characteristics that make it complex to address in dental practice. Dealing with dental fear is a challenging issue in dentistry for various reasons. Although this issue has been studied in children for quite some time around the world, no such studies have been conducted in Zawia, Libya. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of dental fear and anxiety (DFA) among pupils aged 5 to 12- years in public and private schools in Zawia City. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Zawia City over three months. In the survey, 205 students were randomly selected from several private and public schools. All participants were given a self-reported questionnaire containing ten closed-ended questions about DFA. After collecting the data, the results were analyzed based on gender and school type and entered into a Microsoft Excel sheet for further analysis. Results of the study showed that 31.71% of all pupils experienced dental fear and anxiety (DFA). Furthermore, the slight variations in fear levels based on school type indicate that the school environment may influence a pupil's perception of dental visits. Most private school students experienced DFA during physical contact with their dentists and upon seeing dental anesthesia injections. Whereas pupils attending government schools experienced DFA when hearing voices during treatment. Across all areas studied, female students reported slightly higher levels of anxiety than male students. Based on the survey results, it is evident that many pupils experience high levels of dental fear and anxiety (DFA). This highlights the need for intervention and attention in such situations, as DFA can significantly affect a pupil's dental experience and oral health outcomes. Therefore, it is essential to address these fears and anxieties to improve the overall dental experience of pupils and promote better oral health
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