Dental Anxiety Prevalence Among Patients Visiting Karachi's Dental Hospitals

Abstract

Background: Dental anxiety is a common psychological barrier that adversely affects oral health-seeking behavior and treatment outcomes, with varying prevalence across populations and limited data from Karachi. Objective: To determine the prevalence of dental anxiety among Karachi residents and assess its association with demographic, experiential, behavioral, and psychological factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 191 participants using a structured online questionnaire that included sociodemographic data, dental history, and the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS). Associations between variables were analyzed using Chi-square tests, and odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated where appropriate. Results: Moderate-to-high dental anxiety was observed in 57.1% of participants, with 51.3% showing moderate and 5.8% high anxiety. Younger age was significantly associated with higher anxiety (p = 0.028), while gender and education were not. Previous painful dental experience (OR = 2.18, p = 0.040) and delaying dental visits due to fear (OR = 3.45, p = 0.001) were significantly associated with higher anxiety. Procedure-specific triggers such as tooth drilling and local anesthesia elicited high anxiety in over 40% of participants (p < 0.001). Psychological factors including fear of pain, nervousness, and perceived loss of control showed strong associations with anxiety (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Dental anxiety is prevalent among Karachi residents and is strongly associated with behavioral and psychological factors, highlighting the need for early screening and targeted management strategies. Keywords: Dental anxiety, Karachi, MDAS, Pain perception, Behavioral factors, Prevalence.