Conclusion

Individuals cannot be completely healthy unless they are free from the burden of oral disease.  Dental fear and anxiety have been identified as one of the principal barriers for individuals seeking needed dental care (Healthy People 2010²⁰).  Continued characterization of dental and dental hygiene fear patients is necessary to assist the practitioner in identifying and subsequently managing diverse patient populations.

This study demonstrated that male and female subjects reacted differently to dental hygiene treatment with females reporting greater fear and anxiety overall.  Females reported a more extreme response in the domains of specific fear and generalized anxiety.  Age was not a significant factor in the patient's reaction to dental hygiene treatment.

Further investigation of differences in gender response to dental and dental hygiene fear and pain is needed.  Additional research into the relationship between a history of abuse and dental and dental hygiene fear could also provide valuable information for the management of patients.

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