The Prevalence and Impact of Dental Anxiety Among Adult New Zealanders

ObjectiveTo describe the prevalence and impact of dental anxiety in the New Zealand adult population.MethodsSecondary analysis of data from the 2009 New Zealand national oral health survey. Dental anxiety was measured using the Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS).ResultsThe prevalence of dental anxiety was 13.3% (95% CI = 11.4, 15.6). On average, DAS scores were higher by 14% among females, lower among those in the oldest age group (55+), higher by 10% among those in the European/Other ethnic category, and higher by 10% among those residing in the most deprived neighbourhoods. Those who were dentally anxious had greater oral disease experience and were less likely to have visited a dentist within the previous 12 months. They also had poorer oral health-related quality of life, with the highest prevalence of OHIP-14 impacts observed in dentally anxious 35- to 54-year-olds.ConclusionsDental anxiety is a dental public health problem. It is an important contributor to poor oral health and care avoidance among New Zealanders. There is a need to develop both clinical and population-level interventions aimed at reducing the condition''s prevalence and impact.Key words: Dental anxiety, New Zealand, Quality of life, Dental utilisation