Clinical anxieties among dental students.

We analysed the perceived stresses associated with the transition from preclinical to clinical teaching among dental students at the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago. An anxiety questionnaire was completed by 120 students in their Second and Third Years of study. Because of the institution of a new curriculum, these students were uniquely in the same class. The highest levels of anxiety associated with general clinical situations were felt for getting diagnoses wrong, hurting patients, dealing with medical emergencies, and getting infected. In general, there were no significant gender or academic year differences. When faced with specific situations, students were most stressed by the prospect of surgical procedures, temporomandibular joint problems, and failed local analgesia. Significant differences between the two years centred on giving an inferior alveolar nerve block and in dealing with poor oral hygiene, the Second-year students showing the greater anxiety.