ArticleBMC oral health2026
A multi-layered barrier to oral health: a mixed methods exploration of dental anxiety.
Article in BMC oral health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundDental anxiety is a prevalent psychological barrier that prevents many individuals from seeking routine dental care. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and predictors of dental anxiety and to explore the experiences of adult patients in a public dental hospital, providing insight into dental anxiety and its impact on treatment behaviors and clinician interactions.
methodsThe study employed an explanatory sequential mixed-method design, beginning with a quantitative phase involving 415 participants assessed using the Dental Fear Scale, followed by a qualitative phase with 12 participants selected via purposive sampling. Quantitative data were analyzed employing t-tests, ANOVA, and multinomial logistic regression. Qualitative data were analyzed via interpretative phenomenological analysis.
resultsQuantitative findings revealed moderate dental anxiety levels (mean score: 42.48 ± 18.02), with higher anxiety associated with female gender, older age (≥ 56 years), lower education, irregular dental visit attitudes, a history of dental trauma and complications, and attending for reasons such as orthodontic, pain, or surgery. Qualitative analysis identified four key themes: (1) anticipatory anxiety and bodily reactions, (2) emotional experiences during treatment, (3) past traumatic experiences and psychological residue, (4) relational expectations and anxiety reducing factors.
conclusionsDental anxiety is a multifaceted issue influenced by sociodemographic, behavioral, and psychological factors as well as by previous traumatic experiences. The study highlights the need for trauma-informed care, patient-centered communication, and individualized anxiety-reduction strategies in dental practice. Promoting regular preventive visits and addressing anxiety through empathetic, transparent interactions may improve oral health outcomes.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.