Associations between the perception of dental pain and pain anxiety, mental pain, and dental anxiety in Iranian sample

Abstract

Objective This study examined the perception of dental pain and its relationship to pain anxiety, dental anxiety, and mental pain. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on 328 patients referred to dental clinics in Kermanshah (Iran) from 2020 to 2021. The instruments used in this study included scales assessing pain anxiety, dental anxiety, mental pain, and pain perception. Results There was a significant relationship ( p = .001) between pain perception with dental anxiety (r = .38), pain anxiety (r = .45), and mental pain (r = .25). Conclusion Psychological factors are associated with the perception of dental pain. Given the importance of dental care to overall health, psychological interventions may help to reduce the perception of dental pain and fear of seeing dentists in Iran.