Psychometric measures of dental fear.

Four psychometric scales: Corah Dental Anxiety Scale (CDAS), a modified version of the Geer Fear Scale (GFS), the Health Locus of Control Scale (HLCS), and a Mood Adjective Check List (MACL), were studied with regard to their implications for dental fear. Swedish versions given to groups of fearful and non-fearful dental patients as well as non-patients showed satisfactory metric properties. Mean scores obtained were in most cases similar to those reported for original American versions, even though some indications of cultural differences were observed. The scales seem to reflect important aspects of dental fear, and they represent a valuable methodology in research on etiology and treatment of dental fear.