Introduction
 Despite advances in patient management and pain
control, dental fear and anxiety continue to create problems for patients and clinicians
alike. Dental fear interferes with the provision of oral healthcare and can cause
patients to delay, or even avoid necessary care altogether. Research has established
that high levels of dental fear and anxiety are correlated with longer intervals between
dental visits, poorer oral function and esthetics, and a higher frequency of oral symptoms.1,2,3,4,5 While the majority of dental fear research has focused on the prevalence,
origin, and consequences of dental fear and anxiety, a new body of literature has emerged in
recent years.
More studies aimed at examining gender and age differences as they relate to dental anxiety have been done in recent years as practitioners and researchers seek effective, individualized management strategies to meet the needs of diverse patient populations. Two consistent findings in this area of study are: (1) females reporting dental fear and anxiety more frequently than males and (2) an inverse relationship existing between dental fear/anxiety and age.1,6,7
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