PREVALENCE OF DENTAL ANXIETY AMONG FIRST YEAR DENTAL STUDENTS IN A PRIVATE DENTAL INSTITUTE CHENNAI

Background:Dental anxiety is a psychological problem commonly faced by a lot of people. It can affect a person to a great extent that it might prevent them from receiving proper dental treatment, ultimately affecting their oral health. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the dental anxiety among first year dental students in Chennai and find possible outcomes to prevent it. Materials and methods: A cross sectional questionnaire survey was conducted. A self administered questionnaire was distributed among the first year dental students using an online google forms and 100 first year dental students participated in the survey. Data was collected and analysed by using SPSS software. Pearson Chi square was done to correlate the gender and dental anxiety of the participants. Results:Out of the 100 respondents, 13% showed moderate levels of anxiety, 40% showed slight anxiety, 13% showed extreme levels of anxiety and 34% exhibited no signs of anxiety. The most common reason for dental anxiety was caused by tooth drilling and anaesthetic injections. While comparing both the genders, females exhibited higher levels of fear and anxiety. Conclusion: Dental anxiety was prevalent in various levels among the first year dental students.Educational sessions and exposure to clinical procedures will help in decreasing anxiety levels.