The Relationship Between Mindfulness and Dental Fear Across Dental Specialties: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between dental fear and mindfulness levels, and to examine how this relationship varies across different dental specialties. Methods: The Dental Fear Scale (DFS) and the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) were administered to 411 adult patients receiving treatment in six different clinics of the Faculty of Dentistry at Kafkas University. Data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney U, Chi-square, and Spearman's correlation tests. Results: A moderate, significant, and negative correlation was found between MAAS and DFS scores (r = -0.41; p < 0.001). Mean scores differed significantly across clinics. Patients in the Prosthodontics Department exhibited the highest levels of fear (62.21 ± 4.62) and the lowest levels of mindfulness (3.22 ± 0.23), whereas patients in the Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology Department demonstrated the lowest fear levels (40.60 ± 15.76) and the highest mindfulness levels (4.30 ± 1.00). Consistent with these score-level differences, the distribution of dental fear categories varied across clinics, with a significantly higher prevalence of high anxiety in the Prosthodontics clinic (75.7%) compared to the Orthodontics and Radiology clinics. Conclusions: Higher levels of mindfulness were associated with lower levels of dental fear, and this relationship was consistent across all clinical settings. The study highlights that clinical context significantly influences both mindfulness and fear levels, with invasive specialties showing a higher risk profile. Brief mindfulness-based interventions may serve as effective and feasible strategies to enhance patient cooperation and improve treatment outcomes, particularly in clinics where high levels of fear are prevalent.