Dental Patients' Misconceptions, myths and Fears About the Scaling Procedures: An Age-Related Analysis from a Public Sector Hospital

Abstract

with scaling procedure among Patients with respect to age groups visiting a Public Sector Hospital.

Methodology: This Questionnaire based cross sectional survey was conducted in school of dentistry, Islamabad September 2023 to August 2024. Three hundred and fifty participants filled the questionnaire where reluctance and apprehension of dental patients toward scaling procedure in light of myths and fears was answered. Patients having permanent teeth were included in the study, whereas, those having deciduous or mixed dentition were excluded. Quantitative data in terms of age, gender, fears and myths was collected, analyzed and tabulated in frequencies and percentages.

Results: Total 284 (81.1%) males and 66 (18.9%) females participated in this study where 44 (26.7%) participants belonged to 14-24 years of age, 51(30.9%) pertaining 25-34 years and 70 (42.4%) belonged to 35 or above years of age. Participants belonging to 35 – above years did not consider anxiety, painful side effects, tooth surface roughness, cross infection fear, high cost, increased tooth mobility, gap and sensitivity as barriers of scaling. Descriptive statistics was done.

Conclusions: Current study concluded that middle aged and elderly participants were regular dental visitors having less misconceptions and myths regarding scaling and its beneficial effects.