Dental anxiety and dental care - A comparison between Albania and Germany

Abstract Background This is the first Albanian scientific study in the field of dentistry and psychosocial medicine. The aim of this study was to find out whether there are differences in dental anxiety between people from Albania and Germany. Methods This study questioned 263 patients (133 Germans, 130 Albanians) over the course of eight months using the Dental Anxiety Scale questionnaires to determine anxiety before dental treatment and the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 to evaluate psychological distress. Moreover, the patients answered questions regarding their oral health and dental care. Results The current subjective health status of Albanian patients was assessed to be significantly worse than that of German patients. The subjects in the German dental practices also showed significantly higher general psychological distress. The patient groups also differed significantly in the dental treatment-related anxiety level (DAS) with German patients showing higher levels of anxiety. Additionally Albanian patients scored significantly lower on the preventive care index. Despite an elevated DAS anxiety level, German patients reported going to the dentist more frequently than Albanian patients. Conclusion Albanian and German dentists should be more sensitized to the topic of "dental anxiety" in order to be able to deal appropriately with patients with increased anxiety.