Young Adults’ Perceptions of Dental Procedures
Laura Nabors, Emily Iobst

Abstract
Information about young adults’ perceptions of dental procedures is needed. This study investigated factors related to fear of three common dental procedures: drilling, getting a shot, and getting one’s teeth cleaned. Four hundred and seventy-six college students completed a survey assessing dental fears. Most of the participants (73%) were fearful of dental visits in general. Of the three dental procedures, participants were most fearful of drilling. Participants reporting they were more afraid of going to the dentist also reported higher levels of fear for the specific dental procedures. Further, females reported greater fear for all of the procedures compared to males. Findings suggest that having a fearful attitude about going to the dentist may increase fear of specific procedures. Future research should examine relations among dental fears and observable behaviors during dental procedures.

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