Keywords
Dental anxiety
Patient health questionnaire
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Abstract
Objective: To analyze and classify the anxiety levels of patients undergoing dental treatment at a university dental clinic in the Southeast region of Brazil, correlating them with sociobehavioral factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study with 94 adult patients. Corah's Index (1968) was applied to assess anxiety, alongside a complementary questionnaire to gather demographic data, dental history, and habits. Statistical analysis included Mann-Whitney, Chi-square, and Fisher's Exact tests (p<0.05). Results: The mean anxiety score was 7.02, classified as mild. The female gender presented a significantly higher mean (8.15) than the male gender (5.89) (p<0.001). Previous traumatic experiences and the habit of canceling appointments due to fear were significantly associated with higher anxiety levels (p=0.006). Conclusion: Dental anxiety in the sample was predominantly mild, with a higher prevalence among women. Identifying determining factors, such as traumatic experiences, is crucial for developing personalized anxiety management strategies aimed at humanizing care.
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