Dental Education, Is it a Cause for Anxiety and Parafunctional Habits for Dental Students, A Cross Sectional Study

Dental anxiety and parafunctional habits are common in all societies and vary in intensity with physical and psychological implications. A large body of literature examining stress in under- graduate dental students has revealed a significant increase in stress that intensifies with students’ year of study. The aim of the present study is to find whether anxiety and parafunctional habits are common among dental students in Ahram Canadian Dental School. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study, has been conducted on randomly selected dental students from the first and fifth year (Faculty of Dentistry, Ahram Canadian University) with a total 84 students from both levels. Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM_A scale) had been used to examine the anxiety. History was taken as well as clinical examination was performed to measure parafunctional habits. Data were collected, statically analyzed to obtain results. Results: It was found that students in the fifth year showed higher tension and depressed mode than students in the first year. However, students in level one showed higher fear and respiratory symptoms than students of the fifth year. First year students also revealed a higher parafunctional habit as nail biting than those of fifth year. Conclusion: According to HAM_A scale there was a positive relation between parafunctional habits and anxiety among dental students. First year students showed higher scores of fear and insomnia than those of fifth year. Fifth year students showed higher   scores   of   tension   and   depressed   mode    than    those    of    first year. Recommendations: Providing support programs and preventive measures to help students, especially those who are susceptible to higher levels of psychological conditions