LEVELS OF DENTAL ANXIETY AMONG MEDICAL AND DENTAL STUDENTS OF JINNAH SINDH MEDICAL UNIVERSITY KARACHI, PAKISTAN: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Dental fear and anxiety are common psychological responses that adversely influence oral health–seeking behavior, treatment compliance, and clinical outcomes. These responses are not limited to the general population and are frequently observed among healthcare undergraduates, including medical and dental students, where they may also affect future professional attitudes and patient empathy. Despite advances in anesthetic techniques, pain control, and dental technology, dental anxiety remains a persistent concern in both academic and clinical settings.

Objective: The study aimed to determine the prevalence and severity of dental anxiety and to identify associated factors among medical and dental undergraduates at Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU), Karachi, with particular emphasis on gender, academic program, clinical exposure, and procedure-specific anxiety triggers.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 321 undergraduate students enrolled in MBBS and BDS programs from the second to final academic years. Data were collected using validated instruments, including the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) and the Dental Fear Survey (DFS). Sociodemographic characteristics and prior dental experiences were also recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistics summarized anxiety levels, while independent-sample t-tests and chi-square tests were applied to examine associations between anxiety scores and demographic or academic variables. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

Results: Severe dental anxiety was observed in 75.1% of participants, while 13.1% reported moderate anxiety, 4.0% low anxiety, and 7.8% reported no anxiety. Dental students demonstrated significantly higher anxiety responses toward tooth drilling and local anesthetic injections compared to medical students (χ² = 32.95, p < 0.001; χ² = 11.24, p = 0.024). Fear of injections was the most frequently reported trigger (83.6%), followed by fear of tooth drilling (54.5%). Male students exhibited significantly higher mean MDAS scores than female students.

Conclusion: Dental anxiety was highly prevalent among medical and dental undergraduates, with severity influenced by gender, academic discipline, and invasive dental procedures. Early identification, psychological support, and structured exposure-based interventions within health education programs may help reduce anxiety and enhance students’ clinical preparedness.