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Dentistry Journal Dec 2021Dental anxiety and dental phobia are still prevalent among adult individuals and should be considered a dental public health issue. Dental anxiety/phobia is often...
Dental anxiety and dental phobia are still prevalent among adult individuals and should be considered a dental public health issue. Dental anxiety/phobia is often described as a vicious cycle where avoidance of dental care, poor oral health, and psychosocial effects are common features, often escalating over time. Treatment should include therapy for dental anxiety/phobia and oral diseases. This paper discusses aetiology, prevalence, and diagnosis of dental anxiety/phobia and, in detail, presents a conceptual treatment model at the Dental Fears Research and Treatment Center in Gothenburg, Sweden. In addition, based on systematic reviews, evidence-based treatment for dental anxiety is revealed including the interdisciplinary approach between psychology and dentistry.
PubMed: 34940050
DOI: 10.3390/dj9120153 -
BMC Oral Health Apr 2021The purpose was to analyse the associations between dental and trait anxiety, fear of COVID-19 and the duration and frequency of spontaneous hand-to-face contact...
BACKGROUND
The purpose was to analyse the associations between dental and trait anxiety, fear of COVID-19 and the duration and frequency of spontaneous hand-to-face contact (self-contact).
METHODS
A cross-sectional design was carried out with 128 adult patients from four dental clinics in Madrid, during the confinement, from March 15 to May 15. The patients' movements in the waiting room were monitored with Microsoft Kinect Software, also completed the Trait anxiety subscale of the STAI, the COVID-19 Fear and the S-DAI questionnaire.
RESULTS
Associations were observed between the duration and frequency of facial, mask and eye contact with trait anxiety and dental fear was determined only by the frequency of this self-contact. Trait anxiety is associated with dental anxiety and with fear of COVID-19. Although facial self-contact is higher in women, it also rises in men as dental fear increases. Moreover, dental anxiety is a good predictor of trait anxiety and the incidence of facial self-contact.
CONCLUSIONS
Understanding the possible associations between biopsychosocial factors, such as trait anxiety, dental anxiety and self-contact is important. It may help to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the population as well as enabling the formulation of effective interventions to improve oral health care through the implementation of dental care programmes.
Topics: Adult; Anxiety; COVID-19; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dental Anxiety; Female; Humans; Male; SARS-CoV-2; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 33879144
DOI: 10.1186/s12903-021-01564-6 -
BMC Research Notes Jan 2022Information was collected to identify anxiety in dental patients visiting a dental clinic using the Dental Anxiety Scale, their level of psychological distress using the...
OBJECTIVES
Information was collected to identify anxiety in dental patients visiting a dental clinic using the Dental Anxiety Scale, their level of psychological distress using the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 and identifying a correlation between these groups as well as the gender and age.
DATA DESCRIPTION
This data contains a set of 1550 patients' answers to questionnaires taken before dental treatment in a dental clinic. It is divided into male and female patients as well as according to their age. The level of Dental Anxiety can be interpreted by answers chosen in the Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS) and the level of psychological distress by answers chosen in the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18). This dataset should help to encourage more research in the field of dental anxiety and we hope to see more comparisons with our data in the future or in different regions of the world.
Topics: Anxiety; Dental Anxiety; Dental Clinics; Depression; Female; Humans; Male; Psychological Distress; Stress, Psychological; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 35012629
DOI: 10.1186/s13104-021-05897-x -
The Journal of Clinical Pediatric... Sep 2023Dental Anxiety constitutes a series of signs of sympathetic hyperfunction that arises during a dental visit. Orthodontic pain is a common reaction in children and adults... (Review)
Review
Dental Anxiety constitutes a series of signs of sympathetic hyperfunction that arises during a dental visit. Orthodontic pain is a common reaction in children and adults that can increase dental anxiety and affect orthodontic outcomes. Both malocclusion and orthodontic pain negatively affect quality of life. Dental anxiety and orthodontic pain have different contributing factors, and the prevalence of malocclusion and dental anxiety varies. Different methods have been proposed for the classification of the dental anxiety scales and orthodontic pain as a first approach in the treatment process. The objective of this literature review was to discuss the effect of orthodontic pain on dental anxietyand to explore ways to address dental anxietyin children and adultsto reduce negative effects on quality of life. This review not only analyses the prevalence and etiology of dental anxiety, the characteristics and influencing factors of orthodontic pain; but also introduces how dental anxiety and orthodontic pain are diagnosed, and proposes some treatment options. The occurrence of malocclusion has recently risen in children and adults, and the negative effects of orthodontic pain and dental anxiety have been explored in literature. Therefore, this review attempts to provide a critical analysis of dental anxiety and orthodontic pain, to attract the attention of orthodontists and provide a framework for further exploration of effective treatment solutions.
Topics: Adult; Child; Humans; Dental Anxiety; Quality of Life; Malocclusion; Pain
PubMed: 37732433
DOI: 10.22514/jocpd.2023.051 -
Australian Dental Journal Mar 2021The relationship between dental anxiety and mucosal wound healing, especially the inflammatory response, has not been well studied. This study aimed to examine the...
BACKGROUND
The relationship between dental anxiety and mucosal wound healing, especially the inflammatory response, has not been well studied. This study aimed to examine the relationship between anxiety prior to dental treatment and short-term inflammation following impacted mandibular third molar (IMTM) surgery.
METHODS
Fifty-nine patients who required IMTM surgery were recruited for this study. Sample demographics (gender, age) and surgical extent (Pederson classification, duration) were collected. Psychological stress towards surgery was assessed by the Dental Fear Survey (DFS). All surgeries were conducted according to an identical surgical protocol and all patients were given the same medical prescription. Correlations between short-term inflammation (swelling and trismus after 2 days) and DFS, demographics and surgical extent were statistically analysed.
RESULTS
The results showed that patients with a higher DFS score demonstrated more severe swelling (β = 0.36, P = 0.016) and trismus (β = 0.37, P = 0.008) 2 days after surgery. In addition, more severe trismus occurred following more difficult surgery (β = 0.29, P = 0.016) or that with a longer duration (β = 0.21, P = 0.081). Neither gender nor age showed any significant relationship with swelling or trismus.
CONCLUSION
Short-term inflammatory response following IMTM surgery correlated with the preoperative dental anxiety and this correlation was independent of gender and surgical extent.
Topics: Dental Anxiety; Humans; Molar, Third; Pain, Postoperative; Tooth Extraction; Tooth, Impacted
PubMed: 32989884
DOI: 10.1111/adj.12796 -
Frontiers in Psychiatry 2022Dental anxiety seems to be elevated in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and may be associated with feelings of helplessness, loss of control, and sensory...
Dental anxiety seems to be elevated in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and may be associated with feelings of helplessness, loss of control, and sensory overload. Dental anxiety, a primary contributor to dental avoidance, can lead to unwanted long-term oral hygiene consequences. This manuscript characterizes the frequency and correlates of dental anxiety in children with ASD. Specifically, this study examined associations between child-reported dental anxiety and parent-reported autism symptom severity, anxiety symptom severity, sensory sensitivity, and internalizing/externalizing symptom severity. Participants included 76 children without cognitive impairment (age in years = 9.9, = 1.8) who took part in a cognitive behavioral therapy study for children with ASD and co-occurring anxiety disorders. Elevated dental anxiety was found in 68% of participants based on a cut-off score from a dental anxiety measure, with fears related to pain being the most commonly endorsed concern; over half of youth endorsed feeling scared about pinching feelings or having a tooth pulled out at the dentist. No significant correlations between dental anxiety and other variables of interest were found, including overall anxiety severity, ASD symptoms, internalizing and externalizing symptoms, and sensory sensitivities. The findings contextualize the frequency of dental anxiety and its relationship to various variables, which may be useful in tailoring existing treatments to reduce dental anxiety in children with ASD.
PubMed: 35463526
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.838557 -
Community Dental Health Aug 2022To investigate the relationships between dental anxiety, Facebook intrusion, and shame.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationships between dental anxiety, Facebook intrusion, and shame.
METHODS
A sample of 498 adults aged 16-69 years completed an online questionnaire comprising the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale, the Facebook Intrusion Scale, and the Shame scale from the Test of Self-Conscious Affect.
RESULTS
Dental anxiety was positively associated with Facebook intrusion. There were also indirect effects of dental anxiety on Facebook intrusion through shame.
CONCLUSIONS
The results highlight the problem of dental anxiety in the context of Facebook intrusion risk. The findings may be applicable in Internet dependency prevention and treatment, focused on help in coping with the anxiety related to doctors' appointments.
Topics: Adult; Anxiety; Dental Anxiety; Emotions; Humans; Risk Factors; Social Media; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 35605103
DOI: 10.1922/CDH_00034Sobol04 -
Contemporary Clinical Dentistry 2023Assessment of dental anxiety in children is difficult because of their immature cognitive and emotional development. Drawings are well well-established emotion...
BACKGROUND
Assessment of dental anxiety in children is difficult because of their immature cognitive and emotional development. Drawings are well well-established emotion assessment tool. These can be used as nonverbal methods of communication for expressing the children's anxiety and emotions. Art therapy utilizes creative therapy interventions to deal with children suffering from emotional problems.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The aim of the study is (1) To assess the drawings of children for the presence of dental anxiety. (2) To study the effectiveness of art therapy on dental anxiety in children.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
One hundred and twenty children within the age group of 6-12 years were part of this study. The pretest assessment of dental anxiety was done using Frankl and Five facial anxiety scales. All the participants received local anesthesia during their first treatment session. At the end of the treatment session, all the participants were asked to draw a picture of their experience. The drawn figures were assessed by a psychologist. The children were allotted randomly into the study group ( = 60) and control group ( = 60). Art therapy was given to 60 children in the study group for three consecutive appointments. The posttest assessment of dental anxiety was done using Frankl and Five facial anxiety scales after completion of the entire dental treatment.
RESULTS
The pretest scores revealed very high level of dental anxiety in 33 (55%) children in study group and 34 (56.67%) children in control group. The posttest scores of study group, who received the art therapy, revealed that 24 (40%) children had little anxiety and 32 (53.33%) children had some anxiety. Whereas in the control group, the posttest scores showed 20 (33.33%) children had high anxiety and 39 (65%) children had very high anxiety scores. There was a significant correlation between the objective score of dental anxiety and the subjective scores of CD: H.
CONCLUSION
Drawings can be used as an assessment tool for the detection of dental anxiety and art therapy effectively reduces the anxiety in pediatric patients undergoing dental treatment.
PubMed: 38344159
DOI: 10.4103/ccd.ccd_432_23 -
Bioinformation 2022Dental Anxiety (DA) was the most frequent problem which can lead to the avoidance of treatment. Therefore, is to evaluate the DA level among patients of different...
Dental Anxiety (DA) was the most frequent problem which can lead to the avoidance of treatment. Therefore, is to evaluate the DA level among patients of different treatments. A questionnaire was distributed among the participants. The Modified Corah Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) was used to measure dental anxiety. In gender differences, it has been found that females were more anxious than male participants. The younger age group (18-30 years) was less anxious than the older age groups (P < 0.05). Most of the participants in all conditions were slightly anxious. Male participants exhibited less dental anxiety than females. This might be due to males being more stable emotionally.
PubMed: 37693923
DOI: 10.6026/97320630018982 -
Communication, Trust and Dental Anxiety: A Person-Centred Approach for Dental Attendance Behaviours.Dentistry Journal Oct 2020Effective communication forges the dentist-patient treatment alliance and is thus essential for providing person-centred care. Social rank theory suggests that shame,...
Effective communication forges the dentist-patient treatment alliance and is thus essential for providing person-centred care. Social rank theory suggests that shame, trust, communication and anxiety are linked together, they are moderated by socio-economic position. The study is aimed to propose and test an explanatory model to predict dental attendance behaviours using person-centred and socio-economic position factors. A secondary data analysis was conducted on a cross-sectional representative survey of a two-stage cluster sample of adults including England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Data were drawn from structured interview. Path analysis of proposed model was calculated following measurement development and confirmation of reliable constructs. The findings show model fit was good. Dental anxiety was predicted negatively by patient's trust and positively by reported dentist communication. Patient's shame was positively associated with dental anxiety, whereas self-reported dental attendance was negatively associated with dental anxiety. Both patient's trust and dentist's communication effects were moderated by social class. Manual classes were most sensitive to the reported dentist's communications. Some evidence for the proposed model was found. The relationships reflected in the model were illuminated further when social class was introduced as moderator and indicated dentists should attend to communication processes carefully across different categories of patients.
PubMed: 33066178
DOI: 10.3390/dj8040118