Objective:To determine the prevalence of dental anxiety in dental patients before orthodontic treatment so as to provide psychological therapy and nursing guidiance for cases before orthodontic treatment.Methods:A modified Corah Dental Anxiety Scale(MDAS)

State-trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI) and a Visual Analogue Scale of fear(VAS) were used in 65 patients before orthodontic treatment.Results:30.77% of all the patients had MDAS scores≥11 indicating obviously dental anxiety.Scores of the patients who were sensitive to pain and being liable to sense were significantly higher than those of the rest(P<0.01).Conclusion:Dental anxiety in patients before orthodontic treatment is extensive

and many factors are closely related to patients′ dental anxiety level.It is necessary to provide patients with psychological therapy and nursing guidiance before orthodontic treatment.