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Background: Dental anxiety is a prevalent issue that affects a significant portion of the population, leading to avoidance of dental care. The study aimed to identify and compare the self-perceived triggering and relieving factors of dental anxiety among patients of private and public dental institutes in Punjab. Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted between Dec 2021 and Oct 2022, on a sample of 711 physically and mentally healthy patients reporting to three private and two public dental hospitals in Punjab with a score of 11 and above on MDAS, using consecutive sampling. The former section of the questionnaire included demographics, while the latter part focused on self-reported triggers and relieving factors of dental anxiety. The data was analyzed using SPSS, and compared using the chi-square test. A p-value of ≤0.05 was taken as significant. Results: The study included 51.3% females (n=365) and 48.7% males (n=346). Dirty instruments were a major trigger (67.1%, n=477, p=0.001), followed by stressful waiting rooms (54.4%, n=387, p=0.007) and complex procedures (49.2%, n=350, p=0.001) in public hospitals. Delayed appointments were a common trigger (41.1%, n=292) in both settings. Reassurance from the dentist (68.5%, n=487, p=0.087) and minimal waiting times (64.8%, n=461, p=0.012) were key relieving factors in both settings. Conclusion: Dental anxiety triggers were more frequent in public settings, including dirty instruments, stressful waiting room environments, and complex procedures. In contrast, private settings showed fewer triggers. However, both public and private patients valued reassurance from the dentist and minimal waiting times as major relieving factors.

Objective: To identify the relationship between injection needle threat as a mode of disciplining children and acquired dental phobia in pediatric patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at University College of Dentistry, Lahore, Pakistan between December 2021 and November 2022. The study included individuals under the age of 18 years who were presented during the survey and scheduled for pulpotomy or pulpectomy treatment. The study assessed two primary outcomes: dental anxiety and childhood needle threat. Dental anxiety was evaluated using the Modified Children's Dental Anxiety Scale, while childhood needle threat was measured by observing the child's responses to scenarios involving needles. Results: Of total 200 pediatric patients, the mean age was 12.04 ±2.34 years. Mild dental anxiety level was observed in 56 (28.0%) patients, moderate in 122 (61.0%) patients and severe in 22 (11.0%) patients. Childhood needle threat was observed in 94 (47.0%) patients. Patients with mild dental anxiety were 0.86 times significantly less likely to have needle threat as compared to patients with severe dental anxiety (cOR 0.14, 95% CI 0.04 to 0.48, p-value 0.002). Similarly, patients with moderate dental anxiety were 0.83 times significantly less likely to have needle threat as compared to patients with severe dental anxiety (cOR 0.17, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.55, p-value 0.003). Conclusion: The study revealed that most children exhibited moderate dental anxiety, with a notable incidence of dental phobia. Those with higher anxiety levels felt more threatened by needles, underscoring the need to avoid using needles as a mode of discipline.

Objective: To identify the relationship between injection needle threat as a mode of disciplining children and acquired dental phobia in pediatric patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at University College of Dentistry, Lahore, Pakistan between December 2021 and November 2022. The study included individuals under the age of 18 years who were presented during the survey and scheduled for pulpotomy or pulpectomy treatment. The study assessed two primary outcomes: dental anxiety and childhood needle threat. Dental anxiety was evaluated using the Modified Children's Dental Anxiety Scale, while childhood needle threat was measured by observing the child's responses to scenarios involving needles. Results: Of total 200 pediatric patients, the mean age was 12.04 ±2.34 years. Mild dental anxiety level was observed in 56 (28.0%) patients, moderate in 122 (61.0%) patients and severe in 22 (11.0%) patients. Childhood needle threat was observed in 94 (47.0%) patients. Patients with mild dental anxiety were 0.86 times significantly less likely to have needle threat as compared to patients with severe dental anxiety (cOR 0.14, 95% CI 0.04 to 0.48, p-value 0.002). Similarly, patients with moderate dental anxiety were 0.83 times significantly less likely to have needle threat as compared to patients with severe dental anxiety (cOR 0.17, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.55, p-value 0.003). Conclusion: The study revealed that most children exhibited moderate dental anxiety, with a notable incidence of dental phobia. Those with higher anxiety levels felt more threatened by needles, underscoring the need to avoid using needles as a mode of discipline.