139 Dental Anxiety and its Contributors in Underserved and Uninsured Populations

Dental anxiety poses a significant barrier to the access of oral healthcare. Anxiety and fear can lead to avoidance, which potentially causes major problems, particularly among underserved and uninsured populations. The purpose of this research is to investigate dental anxiety levels in patients at the Maliheh Free Clinic, a clinic located in Salt Lake that is dedicated to seeing low-income and uninsured individuals. Data was collected by paper and online self-administered surveys at the Maliheh Free Clinic from October 2023 to February 2024. The survey asked questions to gauge levels of dental anxiety as well as frequency of preventative dental care. In addition, the survey contained questions to obtain demographic information such as age, gender, race, ethnicity, education level and patient experience at the Maliheh Free Clinic. The data was managed using Qualtrics Experience Management, and analyzed by statistical software SPSS. There were 346 participants. Key findings indicate that dental anxiety is experienced at moderate levels, as the average participant reported either slight anxiety or some anxiety while visiting the dentist. Though participants generally reported slight anxiety across various dental situations, the administration of local anesthetic injections and tooth drilling induced the highest levels of anxiety. When asked about their three most recent dental visits, 54% expressed fear and anxiety associated with numbing shots, while 50% reported experiencing pain or discomfort during said visits. While a notable 85% reported daily brushing habits, only 30% received preventative dental care in the last six months and 76% reported an active need for dental treatment. The participants know the importance of oral hygiene and its impact on oral health, but anxiety-related barriers are hindering their procurement of essential dental services. These findings underscore the urgent need for tailored interventions to address dental anxiety and enhance access to dental care services among underserved and uninsured populations. Further research could be conducted to gain insights on other barriers to access as well as relatedness between dental anxiety and dental avoidance. Addressing these barriers could significantly improve oral health outcomes and overall well-being within these communities.