Evaluation of the Relationship Between Dental History and Oral Care Habits with Dental Fear Among Dentistry Students

Authors : Büşra Tosun, Esma Demirtaş, Nuran Yanıkoğlu

Pages : 65-73

Doi:10.54617/adoklinikbilimler.1599125

View : 72 | Download : 73

Publication Date : 2025-05-26

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Aim: The aim was to compare the levels of dental fear among dentistry students both between classes and between preclinical and clinical periods and to investigate the relationship between dental fear and gender, dental history, and hygiene. Materials and Method: 369 dentistry students participated in the study. The Kleinknecht Dental Fear Survey Scale (DFS) was used to measure dental fear levels. Demographic data such as class year, gender, smoking status, and dental history were collected in the first part of the survey. In the second part, students were asked about their dental hygiene habits and in the last part, dental fear scale questions were asked. Normality was assessed with the Shapiro–Wilk test. Mann–Whitney U, Kruskal–Wallis, and Linear by Linear Association tests were used for statistical analyses. Results: The dental fear score of women (17.0±18.1) was higher than that of men (12.3±14.1). While the DFS score in the preclinical groups was 17.4±18.7, the DFS score in the clinical group was 10.2±10.0. While the dental fear score of those who visited the dentist less frequently was higher (45.6±22.9), it was observed that the DFS score of the individuals decreased significantly as the frequency of tooth brushing increased (p <0.001). The DFS score of those who brushed their teeth twice a day was lower than the other groups (9.3±9.4). As the class year increased, improvement was achieved in oral hygiene habits. Conclusion: Dental fear in dentistry students was found to be related to gender, education stage and oral hygiene habits. This study emphasizes the importance of strategies aimed at reducing dental fear, especially in the preclinical period and improving oral hygiene habits. Addressing dental fear in educational processes may contribute to the training of more conscious and confident dentists in the future.
Keywords : Ağız sağlığı, Dental anksiyete, Dental eğitim, Dental korku, Diş hekimi ziyaret

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