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Updated: Mar 31, 2026
Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
High dental anxiety among adults worldwide: A systematic review and meta-analysis using the MDAS
Marta Leśna1, Krystyna Górna2, Jakub Kwiatek1
1Kwiatek Dental Clinic, Poznań, Poland.
Objectives:
Dental anxiety can significantly influence both oral health and overall quality of life. The present review aimed to estimate how common high dental anxiety is among adults worldwide, based on studies that used the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS).
Methods:
A systematic review and meta-analysis were carried out following predefined eligibility criteria. We searched studies published between 2000 and 2025 that reported the proportion of adults scoring ≥19 on the MDAS. Primarily cross-sectional observational surveys, as well as selected clinical observational studies, were included. Using a random effects model, we calculated pooled prevalence estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and conducted subgroup and sensitivity analyses to explore variation by time period and study setting.
Results:
Nineteen studies, involving a total of 9267 participants, met the inclusion criteria. The pooled prevalence of high dental anxiety was 18% (95% CI: 0.10-0.30), with substantial between-study heterogeneity.
Conclusions:
High dental anxiety may affect a substantial proportion of adults, depending on study context. These results emphasize the importance of prevention and intervention strategies aimed at reducing dental anxiety and promoting better oral health outcomes.
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