Öz
Aim: In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the anxiety levels and demographic characteristics of patients who is going to have an impacted lower third molar operation. All the preoperative and postoperative evaluations were done by the same surgeon.
Material and Methods: A total of 100 patients; 53 females and 47 males having impacted lower third molar tooth, aged between 17 and 51, were included in this study. Following the state-trait anxiety forms were given to patients, their impacted lower third molar teeth were surgically removed, and the postoperative questions were asked to the patients and their expectations regarding the operation were noted.
Results: Although the results of this study are not statistically significant, it indicates that preoperative anxiety is slightly higher in female patients, especially in older working age (p<0.05).
Conclusions: Determining patient’s preoperative anxiety may allow surgeon to take the necessary precautions in order to reduce patient anxiety to be able to make more successful treatment. In cases where preoperative anxiety is very high, methods such as sedation or premedication may be suggested to provide a more comfortable operation for the patient. In addition, determining the postoperative anxiety level may help to determine the postoperative analgesic needs of the patients.