@article{article_1582434, title={The Relationship Between Anxiety, Age, Gender, and Periodontal Status: A Case-Control Study}, journal={HRU International Journal of Dentistry and Oral Research}, volume={4}, pages={108–113}, year={2024}, DOI={10.61139/ijdor.1582434}, author={Taştan Eroğlu, Zeynep}, keywords={Dental anxiety, periodontal health, periodontitis, gingivitis, gender}, abstract={Background: Dental anxiety is a common issue observed in the general population and poses a significant barrier to achieving optimal oral health. This study aims to examine the relationship between dental anxiety, periodontal status, oral hygiene habits, and sociodemographic factors in patients seeking periodontal treatment. Materials and Methods: In this prospective study, 150 individuals aged 18-65 were divided into three groups based on clinical and radiographic periodontal examinations: gingivally healthy (n=50), gingivitis (n=50), and periodontitis (n=50). Following periodontal diagnosis, participants were asked to complete the Index of Dental Anxiety and Fear (IDAF-4C). The relationships between dental anxiety levels, periodontal status, sociodemographic data, and oral hygiene habits were assessed, with a significance level of p <0.05. Results: The results indicated that dental anxiety levels were significantly higher in the periodontitis group compared to the gingivally healthy group (p <0.05), while no significant differences were observed between the other groups (p>0.05). In terms of gender, women had a significantly higher mean anxiety level (1.78) than men (1.50) (p = 0.028). Additionally, individuals under 45 years of age had a mean anxiety level of 1.57, compared to 1.95 in those aged 45 and over (p <0.05). Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that periodontitis patients experience higher levels of dental anxiety compared to gingivally healthy individuals. Furthermore, women and those aged 45 and over exhibited higher anxiety levels compared to men and younger individuals. These data suggest that periodontal health status and sociodemographic characteristics may have a strong association with dental anxiety. Therefore, integrating dental anxiety management strategies into periodontal treatment protocols may help improve patient adherence and periodontal health.}, number={3}, publisher={Harran University}, organization={No financial support was received for conducting this study.}