Association of Preoperative Dental Anxiety with Postoperative Pain Following Surgical Removal of Mandibular Third Molars: A Prospective Observational Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48165/ajm.2026.9.02.21Keywords:
Dental anxiety, Mandibular third molar, Postoperative painAbstract
Background: Surgical removal of mandibular third molars are frequently associated with postoperative pain and discomfort. In addition to surgical factors, psychological factors such as preoperative dental anxiety may influence the perception and severity of postoperative pain. Aim: To evaluate the association between preoperative dental anxiety and postoperative pain following surgical removal of mandibular third molars. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted among 40 patients aged 18–40 years requiring surgical removal of a mandibular third molar. Preoperative dental anxiety was assessed using the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) before administration of local anesthesia. Postoperative pain was evaluated using a 10-cm Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours after surgery. Postoperative analgesic consumption and maximum mouth opening were also recorded. The association between preoperative anxiety and postoperative pain was analyzed using appropriate correlation and comparative statistical tests. A p-value<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The study included 40 patients undergoing surgical removal of mandibular third molars. Preoperative anxiety levels were assessed using MDAS, while postoperative pain was recorded at predetermined intervals using VAS. The relationship between preoperative anxiety scores and postoperative pain scores was evaluated. Analgesic consumption and postoperative changes in maximum mouth opening were also assessed in relation to anxiety levels. The statistical analysis was performed to determine whether greater preoperative dental anxiety was associated with increased postoperative pain.
Conclusion: Evaluation of preoperative dental anxiety may provide useful information regarding postoperative pain following mandibular third molar surgery. Identification of patients with higher anxiety levels may help clinicians provide appropriate psychological support and individualized postoperative pain management strategies.
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