The Relationship Between Anxiety, Age, Gender, and Periodontal Status: A Case-Control Study

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.

Keywords

• Dental anxiety
• periodontal health
• periodontitis
• gingivitis
• gender

Supporting Institution

No financial support was received for conducting this study.

Ethical Statement

The study protocol was submitted to and approved by the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Dentistry at Necmettin Erbakan University in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, 1975 (Protocol No: 2024/478). Participants were informed about the purpose of the study, and written consent was obtained prior to the start of the study.

Anksiyete ile Yaş, Cinsiyet ve Periodontal Durum Arasındaki İlişki: Bir Vaka-Kontrol Çalışması

Abstract

Amaç: Diş tedavisi kaynaklı anksiyete, genel nüfusta yaygın olarak gözlemlenen ve optimal oral sağlığa ulaşma yolunda önemli bir engel oluşturan bir sorundur. Bu çalışma, periodontal tedaviye başvuran hastalarda bu anksiyetenin periodontal durum, diş hekimi ziyaret sıklıkları ve sosyodemografik faktörlerle ilişkisini incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Materyal ve metod: Bu prospektif çalışmada, 18-65 yaş arası 150 birey klinik ve radyografik periodontal muayene sonrasında periodontal teşhislerine göre üç gruba ayrıldı: gingival sağlıklı (n=50), gingivitis (n=50) ve periodontitis (n=50). Periodontal teşhisin ardından, katılımcılardan Dental Anksiyete ve Korku indeksi (IDAF-4C) doldurmaları istendi. Dental anksiyete düzeyleri, periodontal teşhis ile sosyodemografik veriler ve diş hekimi ziyaret sıklıkları arasındaki ilişkiler doğrultusunda değerlendirildi. İstatistiksel anlamlılık düzeyi p<0,05 olarak kabul edildi. Bulgular: Sonuçlar, periodontitis grubunda gingival sağlıklı gruba kıyasla dental anksiyete düzeylerinin anlamlı derecede daha yüksek olduğunu gösterdi (p<0,05). Diğer gruplar arasında ise anlamlı bir farklılık gözlenmedi (p>0,05). Cinsiyete göre, kadınların ortalama anksiyete düzeyi (1,78), erkeklere kıyasla (1,50) anlamlı derecede daha yüksek bulundu (p = 0,028). Ayrıca, 45 yaş altı bireylerin anksiyete düzeyi ortalaması 1,57 iken, 45 yaş ve üzeri grupta bu ortalama 1,95 olarak tespit edildi (p<0,05). Sonuç: Bu çalışmada elde edilen bulgular, periodontitis hastalarının gingival sağlıklı bireylerden daha yüksek düzeyde dental anksiyete yaşadığını göstermiştir. Ayrıca, kadınların erkeklere ve 45 yaş ve üzeri bireylerin daha genç bireylere göre daha yüksek anksiyete seviyelerine sahip olduğu görülmüştür. Bu veriler, periodontal sağlık durumu ve sosyodemografik özelliklerin dental anksiyete ile güçlü bir ilişkisinin olabileceğini ortaya koymaktadır. Bu doğrultuda, dental anksiyete yönetimi stratejilerinin periodontal tedavi protokollerine entegrasyonunun, hastanın tedaviye uyumunu ve periodontal sağlığını artırmaya yardımcı olabileceği düşünülebilir.

Keywords

• Dental anksiyete
• periodontal sağlık
• periodontitis
• gingivitis
• cinsiyet

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