**1.2. Prevalence of dental anxiety**

Dental anxiety is reported to be a global public health concern due to its effects on individual's oral health and quality of life. The prevalence of the condition in children ranges from 5 to 61% [2, 3] and in adults from 1 to 52% [4–12], inclusive of participants with both moderate and high dental anxiety.

## **1.3. Factors associated with dental anxiety**
