Table 1 : Corah’s dental anxiety scale.
Corah's Dental Anxiety Scale consists of a series of four multiple choice questions answered by the patient/subject to determine a rating based on individual question scoring. Each answer is given an individual score and then added to provide an anxiety rating (a=1, b=2, c=3, d=4, e=5)

1. If you had to go to the dentist tomorrow for a check-up, how would you feel about it?

  1. I would look forward to it as a reasonably enjoyable experience
  2. I wouldn't care one way or the other
  3. I would be a little uneasyabout it
  4. I would be afraid that it would be unpleasant and painful
  5. I would be very frightened of what the dentist would do.

2. When you are waiting in the dentist's office for your turn in the chair, how do you feel?

  1. Relaxed
  2. A little uneasy
  3. Tense
  4. Anxious
  5. So anxious that I sweat or almost feel sick.

3. When you are in the dentist's chair waiting while the dentist gets the drill ready to begin working on your teeth, how do you feel?

  1. Relaxed
  2. A little uneasy
  3. Tense
  4. Anxious
  5. So anxious that I sweat or almost feel sick.

4. Imagine you are in the dentist's chair to have your teeth cleaned. While you are waiting and the dentist or hygienist is getting out the     instruments which will be used to scrape your teeth around the gums, how do you feel?

  1. Relaxed
  2. A little uneasy
  3. Tense
  4. Anxious
  5. So anxious that I sometimes sweat or almost feel sick.
Anxiety Rating Description
9-12 Moderate anxiety but have specific stressors that should be discussed and managed
13-14 High anxiety
15-20 Severe anxiety (or phobia). May be manageable with the Dental Concerns Assessment but might require the help of a mental health therapist.
Boynes et al.Oral Biology and Dentistry  2014 2:10DOI : 10.7243/2053-5775-2-10