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Abstract

Objective: Dental anxiety is common, but it is frequently overlooked. COVID-19 has been a health care concern since 2020. The aim of this study was to examine patients' and dentists' perceptions of dental fear. Another objective was to validate a color-coded device for calculating dental fear. It was determined how COVID-19 affected fear and attendance.

Method: In the spring of 2020 and 2021, a cross-sectional study was conducted at the primary urgent dental care in Oulu, Finland, following the first (T1) and third (T2) waves of the pandemic. A novel "traffic light" color coding system for dental dread and the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) were used to collect data for analyses (CCF). The impact of COVID-19 on dental anxiety and attendance was assessed with the assistance of both structured and open-ended questions. The surveys were completed by 273 anonymous respondents.

Result: 106 (38.8%) and 167 (61.2%) of the participants visited the dentist in T1 and T2, respectively. On average, they were 45.1 years old. 10.6% of respondents reported having a MDAS score of 19 or higher for severe fear. 87% of people who had severe dental anxiety selected the color red in the CCF "traffic light" system. The members' and dental specialists' appraisals of dental fear were just feebly corresponded (P .001), and there was no concurrence with the red code (Cohen's kappa esteem = 0.035). For those with the most serious self-detailed dental not entirely set in stone by the MDAS, Coronavirus greatestly affected dental participation and dental fear.

Conclusion: Color-coded traffic lights appear to be effective in detecting severe dental phobia and are simple to operate. Given that it may be difficult for dentists to identify dental fear, they might be useful tools. The COVID-19 pandemic has made dental care more difficult for those who are most afraid.