Dental Anxiety and Fear Survey Analysis

This assignment analyzes the results of an online survey focused on understanding dental anxiety and fear among patients. The study investigates various factors influencing dental anxiety, including socio-demographic characteristics like gender and education level, past dental experiences, and specific fears related to dental procedures. The analysis utilizes statistical tests (t-test, correlation, regression) conducted in SPSS software to identify significant correlations and patterns within the data. The goal is to provide insights that can help improve dental healthcare services and reduce patient anxiety.

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Impact of Dental Treatments, Procedures & Gender on Dental Anxiety in Australian Adults

Table of Contents
Aim.............................................................................................................................................................1
Method.......................................................................................................................................................1
Results........................................................................................................................................................2
Discussion...................................................................................................................................................9
Conclusion and Recommendation..........................................................................................................12
References................................................................................................................................................14

Determining dental anxiety v/s type of treatment, in Australian adults
Aim
This research aims to determine the frequencies of university students, meeting preventive
dentistry guidelines.
Method
Participants
Totally 79% participants have participated the online survey in the Edith Cowan University, and
the participants’ age group is between 18 to 52 years. 65 participants were determined based on
the variables like, age, their living place and their previous visit to the dentist. But, only 63
participants responded to the survey. Only the students who lived in the Western Australia were
considered i.e., 100% (65 participants) and the non-residents of Western Australia are not part of
this survey. The number of males are 28 and females are 35.
Materials
Qualtrics is used for collecting information, which is an online survey. The analysis comprises of
23 questions. Data analysis includes independent variables like gender, participant’s nature and
were analyzed with time as dependent variable. Analysis of ordinal data is done with bivariate
analysis. Bivariate analysis was evaluated to know the relationship between last dental visit time
as dependent variable, with both genders and their nature.
Procedure
The responses were gathered with the help of online survey. The Edith Cowan University was
targeted to conduct the survey. The eligibility of the participants includes- The participants’ age
should be 18 years and above; gender; must live in Western Australia, and the participants must
have previously visited the dentist. The duration of this survey lasted for 15 days, from 5th
November, 2017 to 20th November, 2017. t- test, regression, one-sample test, factor analysis and
linear regression is done. Chi-square test is also completed for testing gender and last dental visit
correlation. The p-value with 95% confidence interval was considered for determining the
significant difference at each phase of the study.
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Data Analysis
SPSS software was utilized for analyzing the gathered data, from the Qualtrics. Initially, the
descriptive statistics is generated and later hypothesis tests are conducted. All the obtained values
are utilized in the form of descriptive statistics. The data analysis includes independent variables
like gender, participant’s nature, which is analyzed with time as dependent variable. Analysis of
ordinal data is performed with bivariate analysis. Bivariate analysis was evaluated to know the
relationship between time since last dental visit as dependent variable, with gender (male or
female) and their nature.
Results
Response Rate
Totally, 81 responses were received, but the total number of participants in the survey includes
79 participants, among which only 63 participants’ responses were considered for completing the
survey. 35 females and 28 males responses were analyzed i.e., 44.44% of males and 55.56% of
females are the percentage results. Therefore, most of the respondents were females. The
variable, educational level was analyzed to check the impact of educational background on the
patient’s treatment. The results represented that 24.19% (i.e., 15 participants) had completed
their secondary level and 75.81% (i.e., 47participants) were either attending or had completed
tertiary level. Thus, all the participants have educational background.
It is observed that the participants who went for routine check-up includes 30.16% (i.e.,
19 participants), the filling cavities about 20.63% (i.e., 13 participants), for cleaning the teeth
15.87% (i.e., 10 participants), for tooth extraction 9.52% (i.e., 6 participants), for pain relief
20.63% (i.e., 13 participants) and for other treatment only 3.17% (i.e., 2 participants). This
represents that routine check-up has more number of patients (i.e., 19 individuals). Same number
of participants have complained about filling cavities and pain relief i.e., 20.63% or 13 patients.
Various feelings, situations and reactions that correlate with dental practices were
determined which analyses the muscle tension, rise in breathing rate, sweating, feeling of nausea,
increasing heart rate and mouth salivating experiences of the respondents, to check their reason
for dental anxiety.
The respondents’ feelings and their fear level for the dental procedures are determined
based on the cancellation of their dental appointments. The result of data analysis prove that
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57.38% (i.e., 35 participants) have never feared or cancelled their dental appointments; but,
16.39% (i.e., 10 participants) once or twice have feared and cancelled their dental appointments;
then 19.67% (i.e., 12 participants) have feared a few times and cancelled the dental
appointments; Only 3.28% (i.e., 2 participant) has often feared and always cancelled the dental
appointments. Therefore, the response rate determines that only less people fear and cancel their
dental appointments; and most of them don’t fear to visit the dentist.
Filling cavity is concluded as the fearful treatment, because the number of males who
fear are 2 and the number of females who fear this treatment are 7 (mean =1.79 and SD=1.07).
Only 2 participants or 3.28% people often and always fear, for dental visit.
To analyse the reason for dental anxiety, the experience of the patients were enquired,
where most of the respondents (i.e., 34.43% or 21 participants) never felt any tension in their
muscles, but 32.79% or 20 respondents felt muscle tension at least one or two times. However,
only 13.115 % or 8 respondents felt the same for a few times. The respondents who often
experienced tension in their muscles include 18.03% or 11 respondents. Only 1.64% or 1
respondent experienced muscle tension every time.
51.61% (i.e.,32) respondents never felt increased breathing rate; but 17.74% (i.e., 11)
respondents felt the same just once or twice; 16.13% (i.e., 10) respondents experienced increase
in breathing rate for a few times whereas 14.52% (i.e., 9) respondents have experienced the same
often but all the respondents have never felt this every time.
54.84% (i.e., 34) respondents never experienced sweat; only 19.35% (i.e., 12)
respondents had experienced this at least once or twice; then 12.90% (i.e., 8) respondents
experienced this a few times and the same number of respondents felt sweaty often, but no
respondent has felt this every time.
61.29% (i.e., 38) respondents never experienced nauseating; only 14.52% (i.e., 9)
respondents had experienced this at least once or twice; however 12.90% (i.e., 8) respondents
experienced nauseating a few times; 9.68% (i.e., 6) respondents felt nauseating often, but just
one respondent experienced nauseating feeling every time.
46.77% (i.e., 29) respondents never experienced increased heartbeats; only 25.81% (i.e.,
16) respondents had experienced this at least once or twice; 12.90% (i.e., 8) respondents
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experienced increased heartbeats a few times; 12.90% (i.e., 8) respondents felt increased
heartbeats often, but just one respondent experienced increased heat rates every time.
32.26% (i.e., 20) respondents had salivating mouth experience; only 14.52% (i.e., 9)
respondents had experienced this feeling at least once or twice; then 16.13% (i.e., 10)
respondents experienced this a few times; 24.19% (i.e., 15) respondent's mouth salivates often,
and 12.90% (i.e., 8) respondents had experienced salivating mouth every time.
Pain relief treatment is concluded the treatment that increases the anxiety of the
participants. Where, 6 females and 5 males are noticed to have dental anxiety. Among these
participants, 2 participants have too much anxiety (one from each gender). The age group from
24 to 32 were considered to be anxious. 26 age group were too much anxious.
Does the last dental visit among the university students have any influence with gender and
their educational level?
Pearson correlation from Bi-variate analysis represented that there is no relationship
between the last dental visit duration (p=-.068) and gender (p=1). But, it has correlation with the
educational level (p=1.00).
Pearson Correlation for Dental Visit vs. Education Level
Correlations
What is your
gender ?
What is your
educational level
?
What is your gender ? Pearson Correlation 1 .168
Sig. (2-tailed) .191
N 63 62
What is your educational
level ?
Pearson Correlation .168 1
Sig. (2-tailed) .191
N 62 62
 *Last dental visit compared with gender (male or female)
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At 95% confidence interval, no association was found between time since last dental visit
(2.37+.751) and gender (4.55+.504) among the participants (r = -.053). This was later confirmed
using p-value (p=1), which is provided in Pearson correlation.
Pearson Correlation for Gender vs. Last Dental Visit
Correlations
What is your
gender ?
What is your
time since last
dental visit ?
What is your gender ? Pearson Correlation 1 -.068
Sig. (2-tailed) .594
N 63 63
What is your time since last
dental visit ?
Pearson Correlation -.068 1
Sig. (2-tailed) .594
N 63 63
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Chi- square test has dependent variables, where it helps to find the duration of participants’
dental visit.
 *Last dental visit compared with educational level
Enough results are identified to prove this correlation, along with (p=1.00). Because, it is
also supported by multiple correlation coefficient, r = -.196.
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 Gender and type of treatment
Pearson Correlation for Gender vs. Type of treatment
Correlations
What is your
gender ?
What is your
usual reason for
dental visit ?
What is your gender ? Pearson Correlation 1 .004
Sig. (2-tailed) .973
N 63 63
What is your usual reason for
dental visit ?
Pearson Correlation .004 1
Sig. (2-tailed) .973
N 63 63
 Dental anxiety and type of treatment
All the combined feelings of the patients have impacts on their dental anxiety (i.e., in
filling the cavities). Most of the respondents (i.e., 19 respondents) have visited the dentist for
routine check-up i.e., 30.16%. Therefore, it is assumed that Dental Anxiety is a factor associated
with past bad dental experience or new experience.
What factors affect dental service, among the participants?
Among the participants, it is observed that all the factors affect dental service.
Regression is used for relationship determination, among the single dependent variable and
multiple or single independent variable. Moreover, it allows cross validation for this research.
35 females and 28 males’ responses were analyzed.
Data analysis results are determined on the scale of 1 to 5, by correlating with the fields named -
Being relaxed, Being little uneasy, Tensed, Anxious and Too much anxious that you feel sick.
These are dependent variables that were compared with independent variables.
Correlation is done on question 18 to investigate the relationship between each variable.
Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r) determines the strong connection among two variables. This
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helps to know which treatment makes the participants anxious and is there any correlation with
the gender, treatment and factors of anxiety.
The participants have rated high score for the following- The feeling of anesthetic needle
injected in the mouth (rated 4.33 out of 5) , by seeing the drill (3.43 out of 5) , its noise (4 out of
5) , vibration of drill (3.11 out of 5) , feeling as if you will gag (3.64 out of 5) have been rated
more.
Data analysis determines the duration of participants’ last dental visit, where 49.21% (i.e., 31
participants) had last dental visit within an year, then 19.05% (i.e., 12 participants) had visited
the dentist 1 to 2 years back, and 31.75% (i.e., 20 participants) had visited more than 2 years
back. The treatments that are considered for the survey includes tooth extraction, filling cavities,
routine check- up, cleaning teeth, for pain relief and other treatments. Where, the participants
mostly visited for routine check-up with 30.16% (i.e., 19 participants). Among, all the
participants, 82.28% (i.e., 65) of the participants have previously visited a dentist whereas the
rest 17.72% (i.e., 14) participants have not visited the dentist so far.
According to question no.18, where all the feelings are considered, it is observed that,
20.75% (i.e., 11) respondents felt anxious. Whereas, 30.19% (i.e., 16) of them felt relaxed, but
32.08% (i.e., 17) of them felt uneasy, 15.09% (i.e., 8) of them felt tensed; 20.75% (i.e., 11) of
them were anxious and 1.89% (i.e., 1 participant) was too much anxious that they fell sick.
Therefore, the results show that combination of all the feelings made, 20.75% (i.e., 11)
respondents feel anxious.
Initially, significance of the model was determined, where p-value of .168 signified that
model was statistically significant. Next, the model summary was tested for NagelkerkeR square
value (.594). This denotes that the outcome was affected with 34.43% of variance by the
predictors. The model predicted 61.29%. The p-value for lack of time (p=.05), dental anxiety
(p=.019), indicates that these variables are significant predictors, which are the reasons for
irregular dental visit.
The below mentioned table represents the patients’ demographic data.
One-sample Test for Last dental visit vs. Heart rate increases
One-Sample Statistics
N Mean Std. Deviation Std. Error Mean
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My heart rate increases 62 1.97 1.130 .144
What is your time since last
dental visit ?
63 1.83 .890 .112
One-Sample Test
Test Value = 0
T Df Sig. (2-tailed)
Mean
Difference
95% Confidence Interval of the
Difference
Lower Upper
My heart rate increases 13.708 61 .000 1.968 1.68 2.25
What is your time since
last dental visit ?
16.284 62 .000 1.825 1.60 2.05
For the heart rate increase, the interval difference is lower with 1.68 and upper with 2.25.
The time since last dental visit has difference i.e., lower with 1.60 and upper with 2.05.
Correlations for Dental Visit vs. Fear of Dental Procedures
Correlations
What is your time
since last dental visit
?
Has the fear of
dental procedures
ever made you fail to
attend a
visit to the dentist?
What is your time since last dental
visit ?
Pearson Correlation 1 .025
Sig. (2-tailed) .849
N 63 61
Has the fear of dental procedures
ever made you fail to attend a
visit to the dentist?
Pearson Correlation .025 1
Sig. (2-tailed) .849
N 61 61
Linear Regression for Last dental visit
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Descriptive Statistics Analysis
For, Educational level, gender and fear of dental procedure is shown below.
Reliability Statistics
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Cronbach's
Alpha
Cronbach's
Alpha Based on
Standardized
Items N of Items
.013 .111 3
Item Statistics
Mean Std. Deviation N
What is your gender ? 1.56 .501 61
What is your educational
level ?
2.75 .434 61
Has the fear of dental
procedures ever made you
fail to attend a
visit to the dentist?
1.79 1.082 61
Inter-Item Correlation Matrix
What is your
gender ?
What is your
educational level
?
Has the fear of
dental
procedures ever
made you fail to
attend a
visit to the
dentist?
What is your gender ? 1.000 .181 -.054
What is your educational
level ?
.181 1.000 -.007
Has the fear of dental
procedures ever made you
fail to attend a
visit to the dentist?
-.054 -.007 1.000
Item-Total Statistics
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Scale Mean if
Item Deleted
Scale Variance if
Item Deleted
Corrected Item-
Total Correlation
Squared Multiple
Correlation
Cronbach's
Alpha if Item
Deleted
What is your gender ? 4.54 1.352 .017 .036 -.010a
What is your educational
level ?
3.34 1.363 .071 .033 -.086a
Has the fear of dental
procedures ever made you
fail to attend a
visit to the dentist?
4.31 .518 -.042 .003 .304
a. The value is negative due to a negative average covariance among items. This violates reliability model assumptions.
You may want to check item codings.
Scale Statistics
Mean Variance Std. Deviation N of Items
6.10 1.623 1.274 3
Dental Fear Survey was completed. It is noticed in the sample that, the females (55.56%)
dominate over males (44.44%). Moreover, more than male participants, the females experienced
more fear according to a particular circumstance where (mean = 1.56, SD = .501 versus mean =
2.32, SD = 1.173.
Bar Graph
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If you are making a dental appointment
If you are approaching the dental clinic
If you are sitting in the reception area
If you are lying on the dental chair
The smell coming out from the dental clinic
On seeing the dentist walking in with dental
instruments
On seeing the anaesthetic injection
Feeling anaesthetic needle injected in the mouth
On seeing the drill to remove caries
Hearing the noise of drill
Feeling vibrations of the drill
Feeling as if you will gag
Having teeth being cleaned
Feeling pain even after anaesthetic injection
By considering all the things, how fearful you
feel having dental procedure done
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Anxious
Response Rates
While taking dental appointment 3 participants felt relaxed, whereas while approaching the
dental clinic only 2 participants felt relaxed, then 5 of them sat relaxed at the reception, while
smelling the dental smell and sitting on the dental chair only 2 of them felt relaxed, and seeing
the dentist and the instruments only 1 participant felt relaxed. However, no one felt relaxed about
the feeling of anaesthetic needle injected in the mouth, noise of the drill, its vibration and their
feeling to gag.
All felt uneasy while sitting in the reception, hearing the drill noise and due to anaesthetic
needle's feeling in the mouth.
All felt tensed while approaching the dental clinic, lying on the dental chair and on seeing the
dental injection. All were anxious while taking dental appointment, sitting at the reception, due
to the smell in the dental clinic, and feeling of anaesthetic needle injected in the mouth.
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Participants were identified with too much anxiety that they fell sick, for the following
situations- While approaching the dental clinic, sitting in the reception, lying on the dental chair,
seeing injection, seeing dental instrument and while cleaning the teeth.
Pie Chart
1 If you are making a dental
appointment
2 If you are approaching the dental
clinic
3 If you are sitting in the reception
area
4 If you are lying on the dental chair
5 The smell coming out from the
dental clinic
6 On seeing the dentist walking in
with dental instruments
7 On seeing the anaesthetic injection
8 Feeling anaesthetic needle injected
in the mouth
9 On seeing the drill to remove caries
10 Hearing the noise of drill
11 Feeling vibrations of the drill
12 Feeling as if you will gag
13 Having teeth being cleaned
14 Feeling pain even after
anaesthetic injection
15 By considering all the things, how
fearful you feel having dental
procedure done
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Discussion
Initially, age, living place and patient’s dentist visit are considered as the basic
information. The results show that all the respondents reside in Western Australia, then
experience of the respondents are determined based on their genders. Where, 35 females and 28
responses from the male participants were analyzed. It was observed that all the participants have
educational background.
The analysis observed that the patients for routine check-up are more. There is a tie
between the patients who visit the dentist for filling cavities and for pain relief (i.e., 20.63% or
13 patients). Thus, the primary reason for visiting the dentist is observed.
The various feelings, situations and reactions for dental practices were determined.
Henceforth, the considered reasons for the fear or anxiety of the respondents are listed below:
9) While taking dental appointment.
10) While approaching the dental clinic.
11) While in the waiting room.
12) While on the dental chair.
13) Due to the smell in the dental clinic.
14) On seeing the dentist with the instruments.
15) On seeing the anaesthetic injection
16) While being injected.
17) On seeing the drill.
18) Due to the noise of the drill.
19) Due to the vibrations.
20) Fear to clean the teeth.
21) Feeling that you will gag.
22) Feeling pain, even after injecting anaesthesia.
23) All the above feelings
The results show that combination of all the feelings made, 20.75% (i.e., 11) respondents
feel anxious. According to the gathered data, most of the respondents visited the dentist for a
routine check-up.
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Dental Fear Survey was completed. It is noticed in the sample that, the females (55.56%)
dominate over males (44.44%). more than males participants, the females experiences more fear,
according to educational level, gender and dental fear (mean=2.75, SD=-434 verses mean= 1.56,
SD=.501verses mean=1.79, SD=1.082) and avoidance scale (mean=6.10, SD=1.274) and DFS
total (mean=3.17, SD=5.54). Therefore, significant effect on fear is observed.
The socio-demographic factors such as gender, is evaluated with last dental visit. The
dental fear and dental anxiety are determined.
Conclusion and Recommendation
The responses were gathered from online survey. The survey’s objective was to help the
dental field, by utilizing the responses of the participants. This research aims to improve the
dental health care service and to decrease the level of dental anxiety in the patients. The t- test,
correlation and regression tests are completed with SPSS software. t-test value is 41.12. The
statistics values are determined and represented in this report. The cause for the patients’ anxiety
is highlighted, while taking dental appointment, while approaching the dental clinic, while in the
reception, while on the dental chair, due to the smell in the dental clinic, by seeing the dentist
with the instruments, by seeing the anaesthetic injection, while being injected, by seeing the drill,
due to drill’s noise and vibration, fear to clean the teeth, feeling that you will gag, and feeling of
pain even after injecting anaesthesia. The results represented that combination of all the feelings
made, 20.75% (i.e., 11) respondents feel anxious. Standard deviation, mean values, t test,
regression and correlation are completed successfully. The reason for the averseness to visit the
dentist is determined as new or bad dental experience.
Filling cavity is the treatment which is more fearful and pain relief increases dental
anxiety in the patients.
Moreover, according to the socio-demographic factors such as gender is evaluated with
last dental visit. Henceforth, the combined efforts of the educational institute and Dentists will
ensure an effective environment for the patients in the future. The dentists can work on the
highly rated responses and ensure that the patients are anxiety-free. Dental Anxiety was a factor
associated with new and past bad dental experience. The fear of the patients can increase their
poor oral health with complicated treatment in the future. Hence, this complication can be
stopped with dental care on the right time.
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Thus, it is recommended that a clear explanation by the dentist can relive the patients’
fear and ease their dental process. However, it will also benefit the patients from complicating
their oral health.
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References
A. Kleinknecht’, R., Elliott, J., Hao Hsing, L., & Choo-Soot, T. (1990). A Cross-Cultural Cross
Validation Of The Dental Fear Survey In South East Asia, 28(3).
Yildirim, T. (2016). Evaluating the Relationship of Dental Fear with Dental Health Status and
Awareness. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND DIAGNOSTIC RESEARCH.
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