Dental Anxiety and Fear Levels, Patient Satisfaction, and Quality of Life in Patients Undergoing Orthodontic Treatment: Is There a Relationship?

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between dental anxiety and fear levels, patient satisfaction, and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment. The study was conducted in the Department of Orthodontics, Sivas Cumhuriyet University Faculty of Dentistry. This cross-sectional study included 252 patients, aged 11-14 years undergoing orthodontic treatment. The data collection tools were the Index of Dental Anxiety and Fear (IDAF-4C+), the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ 11-14), the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire, and the Clinical Examination Data Form. The CPQ 11-14 was used to measure OHRQoL. Descriptive statistics, the independent samples t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), Cronbach's alpha, and Pearson coefficient were used for statistical analysis at a significance level of 0.05. The CPQ 11-14 parameters were sufficiently reliable, and the patients mostly had problems with oral symptoms. A significant difference was observed between the type of treatment, the initiation of treatment, emotional well-being, and social well-being (P < .05). The relationship between treatment satisfaction and all parameters was significant (P < .05). There was a significant relationship between IDAF-4C+ and CPQ 11-14, while a moderate correlation was found between dental anxiety and emotional well-being. According to the results of this study, the type of treatment, the initiation of treatment, and dental anxiety impact the quality of life. It was found that treatment satisfaction and a positive patient-dentist relationship positively affect the quality of life and dental anxiety.