Despite the recent innovation and technological advances in modern dentistry, dental anxiety continues to be a widespread problem affecting populations. Patients with dental anxiety tend to delay or avoid dental care which will result in worsening their oral health. Progressive worsening of the untreated oral diseases coupled with the feeling of guilt, shame, or inferiority contribute to further increase in dental anxiety. Thus, a need ascends to understand the level of anxiety amongst our patients. Identifying and targeting these risk factors may improve the effectiveness of strategies to decrease anxiety among patients seeking dental care and thereby contribute to better oral health. Hence, the primary job of dental professionals is to design effective community programs aimed at preventing dental fear and its oral health-related consequences.
Keywords: dental anxiety, fear, oral diseases, oral health