Assessment of dental anxiety scale and oral health literacy among a sample of the new Alamein population: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Oral health awareness (OHL) is a crucial component of dental public health, as it provides opportunities for disease prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of dental problems. Oral literacy (OL) has an influential impact on the physical, mental, social, and economic health of both individuals and communities. Inadequate oral health knowledge and low oral health levels (OHL) endanger communication between patients and dentists in different communities. Consequently, such ignorance may lead to postponing or entirely avoiding dental appointments, ultimately contributing to poor oral health care.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess dental anxiety and oral health literacy among Alamein’s population.

Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the dental anxiety scale (DAS) and oral health literacy (OHL) of a convenience sample of 80 patients selected from the outpatient clinic of the Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport. Any patient aged above 20 and below 50 was considered for the study. Using a structured, interview-administered questionnaire based on the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS). The questions were developed and modified from the previous studies. This questionnaire was designed to assess the dental anxiety levels of patients and analyze the knowledge, attitude, and behavior (KAP) toward oral health literacy. The assessment of the patient's anxiety levels took into account several variables that can influence their mental health. This covered their age, gender, level of education, and number of dental visits.

Results: This study involved 80 participants; the majority were aged 35–50 years (57.5%) and male (57.5%). Regarding employment, a slightly higher proportion were employed (53.8%). The overall dental anxiety score indicated moderate anxiety, particularly driven by fear of invasive procedures. Females had significantly higher anxiety scores than males (p-value = 0.004). Similarly, unemployed individuals reported higher anxiety compared to employed individuals (p-value = 0.006). There were no significant differences in dental anxiety scores based on age, marital status, and education level (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: This current study found that dental anxiety was significantly higher among females than males. However, gender and employment status showed statistically significant associations with dental anxiety. Prevention should be raised among dentally anxious patients to increase awareness and education on comprehensive oral care practices.

Received on, 03 September 2025

Accepted on, 01 December 2025

Published on, 12 December 2025