Gender Difference in Pain Perception and Post-surgery Satisfaction Following Impacted Mandibular Third Molar Surgery - A Comparative Study.

Abstract

Introduction: Dental anxiety, often a result of fear or lack of information, leads to many adults avoiding dental treatment. It is crucial for dental practitioners to assess patients' anxiety levels for quality care and post-operative recovery. The study aimed to compare patient perceptions of pain, anxiety, stress levels and satisfaction with clinical outcomes in surgical extractions of impacted mandibular third molars, using the Visual Analogue Scale and Amsterdam Pre-operative Anxiety and Information Scale.

Methods and materials: This prospective, clinical, comparative study was performed from June 2017 to February 2020. The study sample enclosed 60 patients - 30 males and 30 females of age ranging from 18 to 51 years. The parameter was assessed and measured for both groups and compared for the results and statistical analysis.

Results: The study used IBM SPSS Statistics 16.0 for statistical analysis. Comparisons were made between groups for maximal mouth opening, extra-oral swelling, anxiety scale, pain perception and dental visit satisfaction. Intra-group comparisons were made using repeated measure analysis of variance and Bonferroni's post hoc test. Dental visit satisfaction was also compared. Statistical significance was determined at a P < 0.05.

Discussion: The study found that patient satisfaction was similar for both groups, but female patients experienced higher anxiety and swelling scores compared to male patients. The results suggest that surgeons should educate patients about surgical procedures and related complications.