• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.193-196
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• 2007

From April 9th to May 4th 2007, making a random selection of three private dental clinics in Busan, this study investigated the fear for dental treatment for 178 adults over twenty. Using four items of General Characteristics and DFS of twenty items, the degree of fear for dental treatment was evaluated by self administrated questionnaire. The obtained results were as follows. 1. Reliability analysis of each factor in details was 0.662~0.921 in Cronbach' alpha Coefficients. For Cronbach' alpha Coefficients was over 0.6. Dental Fear Survey Scale was reliable. 2. Dental stimulus response scale of three factors appeared more fear than two factors of the rest. The fear for dental treatment was higher in wemen, older ages, high education level and high income. 3. Factor of dental stimulus response scale, avoidance of dentistry and physiologic response scale accounted for 66.1%($R^2=66.1$)of the variation in dental fear factor as a result from stepwise regression analysis.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.53-63
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• 2021

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between conscious sedation, a moderate sedation method used to reduce dental fear, and anxiety. Methods: The previously developed modified dental anxiety investigation scale (MDAS) and dental fear investigation scale (DFS) were investigated using a self-administered survey for adults aged 19 to 65 years old who visited a dental clinic located in Daegu City from April to November 2020. Those who met the ASA Recommendation Level 1 to 2 were the subjects of this study. The participants were evaluated using the sedation severity rating scale (OAA/S) during the implementation of conscious sedation. A lot of 106 valid questionnaires were analyzed using SPSS. Results: Dental fear and anxiety decreased significantly after dental care with conscious sedation. Dental fear after dental care accompanied by conscious sedation was statistically significant in females, those under the age of 40, those with a bachelor's degree or higher, and those who weighed 60 kg or less. Conclusions: Dental care using conscious sedation was found to have an effect on the reduction of dental fear after the dental procedure. Dental fear can occur in people of all ages, and, regardless of the individual's general and physical characteristics, conscious calming is considered an effective intervention for dental fear in all adults.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.193-212
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• 2023

It is important to understand patients' anxiety and fear about dental treatment. A patient's anxiety can be quantified through a self-report questionnaire, and many related scales have been developed. In this review, I tried to find out which scale is most suitable for the patient's dental anxiety and fear evaluation by examining the contents of previously developed scales and comparing the strengths and weaknesses of each scale.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Esthetic Dentistry
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.54-60
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• 2019

Objective: Dental fear is a feeling of anxiety and fear without intervention during a dental visit, mainly due to past negative dental treatment experiences, and in adults, despite the recognition of the need for dental treatment, it can lead to avoidance of dental treatment, which may cause deterioration of oral health. Therefore, this study was conducted to measure dental fear and anxiety level in some adults, and to identify related factors and their causes. Methods: This study used Kleinknecht's Dental Fear Survey scale and the SPSS 21 program (IBM SPSS Statistics 21) was used for analysis. Result: When the dental fear was the higher, the "access to the dental clinic" was found to be the highest, followed by "sitting in dental unit chair" and "smell of dental clinic" in that order. Conclusions: Dentists and dental hygienists should be able to understand the fear, anxiety, and concerns of the dentist office and to find various ways to provide systematic medical services.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.419-436
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• 2006

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore dental hygiene treatment fear and anxiety in dental patients. METHODS: The sample consisted of 466 dental patients who had received the dental hygiene treatment at 8 Dental Hospitals and Clinics in Daegu city between March and August 2006 studied. Dental hygienists recruited a questionnaire, which includes generalized anxiety sub-scale(4 items), specific fear sub-scale(5 items), distrust sub-scale(5 items), and catastrophic anxiety sub-scale(4 items). Minimum score is 1, and maximum score is 5. The research was designed to be a cross-sectional measured study. SAS statistical software was used for the analysis. The characteristics of the study sample were described by mean and standard deviation(SD) for continuous variables and by frequency and percentage for categorical variables. The Student's t-test and analysis of variance(ANOVA) were used to compare fear and anxiety score in demographic variables. A Pearson's correlation analysis was conducted for relationship among values of fear and anxiety for dental hygiene. Multiple regression analysis was performed to determine the factors associated with fear and anxiety related with dental hygiene. RESULTS: A total of 466 dental patients were analyzed, their average age${\pm}$SD was $37.7{\pm}12.9$ years(range: 15-79 yr). The mean value for dental hygiene fear and anxiety was 2.70(generalized anxiety 2.65, specific fear 2.93, distrust anxiety 2.72, and catastrophic anxiety 2.42, respectively). There was a statistically significant difference in gender(p<0.05), 2.81 for women was higher than 2.55 for men(p=.0000). The older we are, the higher fear and anxiety for dental hygiene treatment were. that is, under age of 20 years 2.49, 20 years 2.59, 30 years 2.69, 40 years 2.77, 50 years 2.88, 60 years 2.69, and over age of 70 2.45, respectively(p=.0321). Factors related to dental hygiene treatment fear and anxiety by multiple regressions were gender(${\square}$=0.18, p=0.0001), age(${\square}$=.07, p=.0058), and the time when visits dentist recently(${\square}$=.07, p=.0058). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, gender, age and the time when visits dentist recently were significantly associated with dental hygiene treatment fear and anxiety. We recommend that further research should investigate a dental hygiene treatment fear and anxiety by using more follow-up study.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.881-886
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• 2014

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to investigate the related factors to dental fear in some adults. Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was filled out by 320 adults in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do from April to June, 2013. Except 14 incomplete answers, data were analyzed by SPSS 18.0 program. The questionnaire consisted of general characteristics of the subjects(7 questions), dental fear related factor(18 questions), distrust for dentist(15 questions), and distrust for dental hygienist(11 questions). The instrument for dental treatment fear was Dental fear Survey(DFS) adapted from Kleinknecht and partly modified by Choi. Out of 20 questions, 18 questions were reconstructed and score by Likert 5 scale. Higher score means higher dental fear. Cronbach alpha was 0.959 in the study. The distrust for dentist and dental hygienist was adapted from Choi and reconstructed and score by Likert 5 scale. Higher score means higher distrust for dentist and dental hygienist. Cronbach alpha was 0.937 in distrust for dentist and 0.874 in distrust for dental hygienist in the study. Results: Those who experienced dental pain tended to have dental fear. The reasons for dental fear were as follows; bad breath(2.96 out of 5 points, hereafter represented as of 2.96/5), dental caries(2.88/5), missing teeth(2.87/5) and tooth pain(2.77/5). The distrust for the dentist was the main dental fear in the adults. Conclusions: The dental fear was closely related to gender, experience of dental pain, oral symptoms and distrust for the dentist. As the psychological pain in the patients was mainly influenced by the trustful atmosphere, it is necessary to make the patient easy before treatment.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.141-151
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• 2012

In this study a survey was conducted of a total of 187 insurance sales workers from 10 branches of S Insurance Company located around Korea to gather information on causes of dental fear. Results revealed that the group who had experienced direct dental pain in the past showed higher fear levels than the group without such experience. With respect to indirect dental pain, the group with such experience showed higher fear levels in 'fear of dental appointments' and 'fear of antiseptic smells than the group without such experience. Concerning gender, higher fear levels were observed among females than among males. It was also found that the majority of the respondents seldom go for a regular dental check-up regardless of whether they had experienced direct or indirect pain during dental treatment. In addition, there was positive correlation among all the items in the Dental Fear Survey Scale at a significance level of 0.1%. Twenty of all the DFS items were found to be related to causes of dental fear, meaning that most of the elements involving the dentistry may contribute to the development of dental fear among dentally fearful people.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.987-993
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• 2013

Objectives : The aim of the study is to offer basic data that help to reduce dental fear by measuring adult dental fear level with DFS scale. Methods : The subjects were 300 persons including college students in W University and their parents in Jeollabuk-do Province. Data were collected by convenience sampling from May 1 to May 30, 2013. Results : 1. Dental clinic visit provoked pain in 99 people(47.4%). Oral examination and preventive treatment evoked pain in 13 people(6.2%). 2. Women tended to feel much pain than men. Both women and men felt the thrilling fear when a needle pricks the flesh. 3. Respondents having dental caries, gum bleeding, halitosis, shaking tooth, and painful tooth had a higher dental fear level. 4. The direct pain experience(p<0.001) had the greatest influence. The next influencing factor was the insufficient anesthesia(p<0.05). 5. The explanatory power that the pain experience has influence upon dental fear is $R^2$=0.151. Conclusions : The direct pain experience and the insufficient anesthesia experience have the great influence upon patients' dental fear level. Anesthetics and analgesics can be considered as one of the positive methods for pain control.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.387-401
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• 1998

This study was performed to investigate the emotional state related to dental fear, hospital anxiety and depresison, and frequency of stress symproms of orofacial region. For this study, Dnetal Fear Surfey(DFS) scale, the Hospital ANxiety and Depression(HAD) scale, and Stress Symptom Questionnaire(SSQ) designed by the author were used in 549 dental outpatients. Dental Fear Survey scale is composed of avoidance of dentistry(AVOI), physiologic response scale(PRS) and dental stimulus response scale(DSRS). The Hospital anxiety and Depresiosn scale is composed of hospital anxiety(HA) and hospital depressoin (HD). Data were analyzed statistically with SPSS program and the results were as follows : 1. The item of the highest positive response rate in DFS scale was 'feeling drill'(82.0%), and in the HAD scale was ' feel as if I am slowed down'(84.1%). 2. Mean score of AVOI, PRS, DSRS and HD were higher in the older group(>25yr) than the yoiunger group(<25yr) and female patients showed higher score of DSRS, HA than male patients. 3. Mean number of items of stress symptoms in extraoral region were 3.4, and in intraoral region, were 4.7. Tongue wymptoms were increased in the older toup and female patients had more stress symptoms than male patients. 4. Correlation between DFS scale and HAD scale were significantly positive and these scales were also apositively correlated with tongue symptoms. 5. As for treatment types, the patients treated in the department of periodontics,conservative dentistry, and oral surgery showed higher score of DFS scale than the patients with temporomandibular disorders or treatedin the department of orthodontics.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.369-376
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• 2015

The purposes of this study were to assess dental fear and anxiety level of patients attending a dental clinic using the dental fear survey (DFS) scale, to apply interventions chosen by patients for reducing dental fear and anxiety and measure their effects. This study surveyed 34 patients who visited a dental clinic in Seoul about their self-rated health and their experience of dental fear, and measured the level of dental fear using DFS. Trained dental hygienists applied interventions desired by the patients for reducing dental fear and anxiety and, for each intervention, examined the patients' satisfaction (very helpful [5 point]~not helpful at all [1 point]). Collected data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics ver. 21.0 through independent t-test or one-way ANOVA for difference in level of fear according to related characteristics, and through Wilcoxon signed rank test for comparison between before and after the intervention. The subjects' mean level of fear (DFS score) was 44.53, which was an average level, and the level of dental fear was relatively high for stimulus-response (2.72). The level of dental fear was higher in those who had experienced pains or indirect dental fear from dental treatment in the past, and those whose subjectively perceived health state was poor (p<0.05). With regard to the applied dental fear intervention, 'Helpful (3.57)' was the most common answer. Overall satisfaction before and after the application of dental fear intervention was generally high as 4.37 and 4.35, respectively, but it decreased slightly after the intervention. In order to lower the level of dental fear, it is considered effective to survey not only the level of dental fear but also patients' need of dental fear interventions and to apply a suitable intervention. It is also required to educate dental workers and to develop related manuals.