A national cross-sectional survey of dental anxiety in the French adult population

A convenience sample of 2725 adults (mean age = 47 years, SD16, minimum = 16, maximum = 101 years), representative of the French population with regard to age and urban distribution, completed a French version of the Corah Dental Anxiety scale (DAS) and a questionnaire relating to their dental appointments.Moderate dental anxiety (14≥DAS≥13) was revealed for 172 persons (6.2%), while 195 (7.3%) had severe dental anxiety (DAS≥15), giving an overall prevalence of dental anxiety of 13.5%. Prevalence was lower proportionally with age (P < 0.001) and was higher in French overseas territories and in the countryside (P < 0.01). Farmers and low skilled workers were significantly more anxious than executives and shopkeepers (P < 0.001). Anxiety was associated with avoidance of care (p < 0.001) and lack of regular dental appointments (p < 0.001).Dental anxiety in France appears to concern a similar proportion of the population as in other industrialised European, Australasian or North American countries. Recommendations for prevention and management of dental anxiety are made with reference to dental education and health care services in France.Dental anxiety partially limits, or completely prevents, utilisation of oral health care services [1,2]. It increases the prevalence of dental disease [2,3]. Anxious persons present more damaged or missing teeth and less restored teeth [4]. Regular and conventional care is bypassed by dentally anxious persons, who rely on self-care, use of emergency services, and occasionally use of traditional or parallel remedies to relieve pain. The oral health and quality of life of this population are affected [5]. When professional care is provided, it is often given under general anaesthesia without consideration for the aetiological factors behind dental fear. Ideally, the management of patients with dental anxiety requires psycho-behavioural and sedation procedures [6,7] as alternatives to general anaesthesia. Such techniques have been shown t