Exploring the behaviours and attitudes related to dental anxiety in sufferers of mental health, who seek dental treatment

Abstract

Introduction: Appukuttan (2016) defines dental anxiety as "the anxiety or tension associated with preventive care and dental procedures in the dental environment." People who are anxious about the dentist may put off getting dental treatment and avoid attending for long periods of time. Dental anxiety remains a significant barrier for both dental professionals and their patients. The significant frequency of dental anxiety observed in several countries emphasises the significance of dental anxiety as a problem in dentistry. Although dental anxiety is common in youngsters, it has also been shown to exist in adults. Aims: Dental anxiety can also affect patients who have been diagnosed with a mental health problem. However, the question is, does it affect them more? Some believe it is more prone to develop in those who have mental health conditions, although it can also affect people who do not have any mental illnesses. This study aims to investigate dental anxiety behaviours and attitudes, as well as whether dental anxiety is more prevalent among patients who have been diagnosed with a mental health disorder. Methodology & Results: A qualitative survey was conducted via social media. The targeted population was both mental health sufferers compared to those who do not suffer from any mental health disorder, aged 18 years or older. Results showed significant differences of perceived mental health condition; however, it showed marginal differences for professionally diagnosed mental health sufferers across age groups. In addition to this, results show marginal differences in prevalence of dental anxiety across age groups. Furthermore, no significant differences were observed in the prevalence of dental anxiety between individuals who selfperceive a mental health condition and those professionally diagnosed with one, compared to those without mental health conditions. Conclusion: It has been concluded that there is a knowledge gap on the lack of perception of dental anxiety, which indicates lack of awareness on the subject. Patient-reported outcomes provided valuable insights into the behaviour and attitudes surrounding dental anxiety, emphasising the importance of understanding individual perspectives to be able to drive improvement initiatives. Hence, the importance of promoting awareness about dental anxiety across all Malta and Gozo should be considered.