DENTAL ANXIETY IN PERIODONTAL PATIENTS ATTENDING A UNIVERSITY CLINIC IN NORTHEASTERN MEXICO

Abstract

 Objective: To determine the level of dental anxiety in adult patients attending periodontal evaluation at a university dental clinic in northeastern Mexico. Materials and Methods: A crosssectional study was conducted using a non-probabilistic convenience sample of adult patients (≥18 years). Dental anxiety was assessed prior to periodontal evaluation using the Spanish version of the Short Dental Anxiety Inventory (S-DAI).  Sociodemographic variables were recorded. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and associations were evaluated using chi-square tests (p < 0.05). Results: A total of 189 participants were included (mean age 38.53 ± 16.38 years). Overall, 67.6% of participants presented some level of dental anxiety. Mild anxiety was the most frequent category (37.6%), followed by no anxiety (32.3%), moderate anxiety (12.7%), and severe anxiety (17.5%). Statistically significant associations were found between dental anxiety and sex (p = .002) and occupation (p = .035), while no significant associations were observed for age, place of residence, marital status, or educational level. Conclusions: Dental anxiety is highly prevalent among patients undergoing periodontal evaluation. The use of brief, validated instruments such as the S-DAI during the initial consultation may facilitate early identification of anxious patients and support the implementation of patient-centered strategies to improve treatment adherence.