The differences patient anxiety level based on age, sex, education level and extraction experience in tooth extraction treatment at dental hospital IIK Bhakti Wiyata

Background: Dental anxiety is a significant concern in dental practice, impacting both patients and dentists. Patients experiencing anxiety and fear often exhibit heightened stress levels, which can complicate treatment procedures and negatively impact the overall patient experience. This anxiety, in turn, creates a considerable source of stress for dentists. Managing anxious patients requires additional time, patience, and communication skills, potentially increasing the emotional and psychological burden on dental professionals.Tooth extraction is also the biggest cause of dental anxiety.

Purpose: This study aims to determine differences in patient anxiety levels based on gender, age, education level and experience of extraction using the Modified Dental Fear Survey (MDFS) method in tooth extraction treatment at RSGM IIK Bhakti Wiyata.

Methods: This study used an analytic observational design with a cross sectional approach. The population of this study were all patients who had their teeth extracted at RSGM IIK Bhakti Wiyata. The sample were all patients who had their teeth extracted at RSGM IIK Bhakti Wiyata who met the criteria. The level of anxiety in the sample was measured using the Modified Dental Fear Survey (MDFS) questionnaire prior to tooth extraction.

Results: There were differences in patient anxiety levels based on gender and extraction experience (P=0.00) and patient anxiety levels based on age (P=0.017) but there were no differences in patient anxiety levels based on education level in dental extraction treatment (P=0.122).

Conclusion: Gender plays a crucial role, with women typically experiencing higher anxiety levels compared to men. Interestingly, age and educational background did not significantly influence anxiety.