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General Dentistry 2018
Review
Topics: Anxiety Disorders; Dental Anxiety; Dental Care for Chronically Ill; Humans
PubMed: 29513226
DOI: No ID Found -
Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor... Nov 2022Fear of dental treatment is a common phenomenon. Every oral health care provider will have to treat a patient with this fear one day. Adequate diagnostics are essential...
Fear of dental treatment is a common phenomenon. Every oral health care provider will have to treat a patient with this fear one day. Adequate diagnostics are essential for a correct assessment of the level of fear and how an anxious patient can best be helped. In cases of mild fear, lowering the state anxiety by teaching the patient coping skills, will suffice. In cases of extreme fear, reducing disposition anxiety (the core of the anxiety disorder) comes first, since this will not only reduce fear during the treatment, but will also halt avoidance behavior, which in the end will have a positive effect on the oral health care of the patient.
Topics: Humans; Dental Anxiety; Dental Care; Oral Health; Fear; Anxiety
PubMed: 36345675
DOI: 10.5177/ntvt.2022.11.22038 -
BMC Oral Health Apr 202220-80% of adults presenting to a dental clinic experience anxiety. Negative past dental experiences and environmental factors such as the waiting area of a dental clinic...
BACKGROUND
20-80% of adults presenting to a dental clinic experience anxiety. Negative past dental experiences and environmental factors such as the waiting area of a dental clinic or sound of a drill are commonly considered triggering factors for anxiety. Anxiety management strategies are considered a part of routine dental procedure, due to increased prevalence and compromised patient care. Hence the aim of the present study is to identify the prevalence and variables associated with dental anxiety and their management in patients visiting the primary care dental clinics in Bahrain.
METHOD
Four hundred and eighty participants were included. A 3-part questionnaire deciphered the demographic characteristics of the participants, the dental procedure undertaken, the level of anxiety, and the management strategy used by the dentist. The pre and post-treatment MDAS scores were recorded. Paired t test, ANOVA and Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to test the level of significance between the variables and the mean MDAS scores. The p ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
RESULTS
The prevalence of dental anxiety was 23.7% with moderate anxiety, and 11.4% with high anxiety. Females presented with a higher mean MDAS both pre and post-treatment compared with males. A statistically significant difference between the pre and post-treatment MDAS scores were observed in educated patients less than 50 years of age. Those with unpleasant previous dental experience showed statistically significant difference. Analyses of anxiety management techniques showed that single techniques worked better than combination techniques. Rest and breaks combined with any other technique of choice showed significant reduction in the MDAS scores post treatment.
CONCLUSION
To conclude, all patients attending the dental clinic present with some level of anxiety that necessitates the dentist to use anxiety management strategies. Non-pharmacological methods that are non-invasive must be the first choice. Rests and breaks, with any technique of choice provides the best possible anxiety management. It is possible to achieve the desired anxiety reduction in single visit to complete the planned dental intervention, other than in patients who are dental phobic.
Topics: Adult; Bahrain; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dental Anxiety; Dental Clinics; Female; Humans; Male; Primary Health Care; Sex Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 35448999
DOI: 10.1186/s12903-022-02173-7 -
JDR Clinical and Translational Research Oct 2020Dental anxiety is common and causes symptomatic use of oral health services. (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
INTRODUCTION
Dental anxiety is common and causes symptomatic use of oral health services.
OBJECTIVES
The aim was to study if a short-term virtual reality intervention reduced preoperative dental anxiety.
METHODS
A randomized controlled single-center trial was conducted with 2 parallel arms in a public oral health care unit: virtual reality relaxation (VRR) and treatment as usual (TAU). The VRR group received a 1- to 3.5-min 360° immersion video of a peaceful virtual landscape with audio features and sound supporting the experience. TAU groups remained seated for 3 min. Of the powered sample of 280 participants, 255 consented and had complete data. Total and secondary sex-specific mixed effects linear regression models were completed for posttest dental anxiety (Modified Dental Anxiety Scale [MDAS] total score) and its 2 factors (anticipatory and treatment-related dental anxiety) adjusted for baseline (pretest) MDAS total and factor scores and age, taking into account the effect of blocking.
RESULTS
Total and anticipatory dental anxiety decreased more in the VRR group than the TAU group (β = -0.75, P < .001, for MDAS total score; β = -0.43, P < .001, for anticipatory anxiety score) in patients of a primary dental care clinic. In women, dental anxiety decreased more in VRR than TAU for total MDAS score (β = -1.08, P < .001) and treatment-related dental anxiety (β = -0.597, P = .011). Anticipatory dental anxiety decreased more in VRR than TAU in both men (β = -0.217, P < .026) and women (β = -0.498, P < .001).
CONCLUSION
Short application of VRR is both feasible and effective to reduce preoperative dental anxiety in public dental care settings (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03993080).
KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER STATEMENT
Dental anxiety, which is a common problem, can be reduced with short application of virtual reality relaxation applied preoperatively in the waiting room. Findings of this study indicate that it is a feasible and effective procedure to help patients with dental anxiety in normal public dental care settings.
Topics: Dental Anxiety; Female; Humans; Male; Relaxation; Virtual Reality
PubMed: 31962052
DOI: 10.1177/2380084420901679 -
Zeitschrift Fur Kinder- Und... Jul 2020Dental anxiety in preschool children: How helpful are behavioral control management strategies? Dental anxiety is a frequent problem in the dental treatment of young... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
Dental anxiety in preschool children: How helpful are behavioral control management strategies? Dental anxiety is a frequent problem in the dental treatment of young children. Control management methods are widely used in pediatric dental care as coping strategies. This study compares two control management strategies regarding their reduction of dental anxiety and treatment success. A group of 60 preschool children with known dental fear in their medical history underwent professional dental cleaning in which the Tell-Show-Do Method (TSDM) was applied. Patients were randomized into two groups according to the controlling method employed: (1) limited controlling method (L-K) and (2) standardized controlling method (S-K). The efficacy of the two control methods was tested using pulse rate as an objective measure of anxiety and self-rating as a subjective indicator. Both the S-K and the L-K condition showed a significant reduction in pulse rate, and there was no difference in physiological arousal and treatment success. However, independent of the group disposition, there was a noticeable increase in pulse rate in children after TSDM. The results of this study indicate that even limited options for controlling dental treatment do not lead to greater burdens on the children in question with dental anxiety. However, further studies are necessary to investigate the use of control methods independent of TSDM.
Topics: Adaptation, Psychological; Child, Preschool; Dental Anxiety; Heart Rate; Humans; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 31951148
DOI: 10.1024/1422-4917/a000703 -
International Dental Journal Apr 2005This paper aims to provide an overview of the current knowledge regarding the management of adult dentally anxious patients. Furthermore, an attempt is made to formulate... (Review)
Review
This paper aims to provide an overview of the current knowledge regarding the management of adult dentally anxious patients. Furthermore, an attempt is made to formulate a number of preliminary clinical guidelines, based on the available literature. The findings are discussed in the light of the following four problem areas or types of patients, those with: 1) a mild form of fear or anxiety, 2) a phobia of specific dental procedures or situations, 3) interfering psychiatric symptoms and/or 4) a high treatment need. The literature suggests that particularly the implementation of a high level of predictability during treatment, the training of patients in the use of coping skills, and the application of in vivo exposure to anxiety provoking stimuli are the most appropriate options for the management of anxious dental patients and the reduction of their anxiety level.
Topics: Adaptation, Psychological; Adolescent; Adult; Anesthetics, Inhalation; Benzodiazepines; Child; Dental Anxiety; Dental Care; Desensitization, Psychologic; Humans; Hypnotics and Sedatives; Internal-External Control; Nitrous Oxide; Premedication; Referral and Consultation; Relaxation
PubMed: 15880961
DOI: 10.1111/j.1875-595x.2005.tb00037.x -
Dental Update Nov 2016Dental anxiety (DA) is a common problem; the latest Adult Dental Health Survey (UK) reported nearly half of the adult population experienced anxiety when visiting the...
Dental anxiety (DA) is a common problem; the latest Adult Dental Health Survey (UK) reported nearly half of the adult population experienced anxiety when visiting the dentist. Given individual differences in the experience of dental anxiety, it is important for the dentist to understand its development, detection and management. This article aims to provide an overview of the main psychological theories to explain the development of dental anxiety (behavioural, psychoanalytical and cognitive), as well as an overview of anxiety detection and management techniques from a psychological perspective. Clinical relevance: Dental anxiety is a common barrier to oral healthcare, with nearly half of the UK population affected. By understanding its causes, effective management can reduce anxiety, and therefore barriers to achieving high standards of oral health can be overcome.
Topics: Adult; Child; Dental Anxiety; Humans; Self Report; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 29152960
DOI: 10.12968/denu.2016.43.9.883 -
ASDC Journal of Dentistry For Children 1998This article reviews self-report measurements frequently used to assess dental anxiety in children. The main focus is on their reliability and validity. For this purpose... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Review
This article reviews self-report measurements frequently used to assess dental anxiety in children. The main focus is on their reliability and validity. For this purpose correlations between the reviewed measurements and other measurements of dental fear in children are considered, as well as their possible ambiguity with respect to scoring procedures and their ability to discriminate between fearful and non-fearful children. Results show that all three questionnaires discussed are open to criticism. It is concluded that of the self-report measurements, the Children's Fear Survey Schedule-Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS) is to be preferred to both Corah's Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS) and the Venham Picture Test (VPT). The reasons for this are the following: the CFSS-DS covers more aspects of the dental situation; it measures dental fear more precisely than the other scales; normative data are available on this scale; and it has slightly superior psychometric properties.
Topics: Child; Child, Preschool; Dental Anxiety; Dental Care for Children; Humans; Manifest Anxiety Scale; Psychometrics; Reproducibility of Results; Self-Assessment
PubMed: 9740944
DOI: No ID Found -
Journal of Applied Oral Science :... 2010
Topics: Adult; Child; Dental Anxiety; Humans; Manifest Anxiety Scale; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 20485918
DOI: 10.1590/s1678-77572010000200001 -
Journal of Anxiety Disorders May 2013Dental anxiety and specific phobia of dental procedures are prevalent conditions that can result in substantial distress and oral health impairment. This paper... (Review)
Review
Dental anxiety and specific phobia of dental procedures are prevalent conditions that can result in substantial distress and oral health impairment. This paper critically reviews 22 randomized treatment trials aimed at reducing dental anxiety and avoidance in adults, published in peer-reviewed journals between 1974 and 2012. The following treatment techniques are reviewed: various forms of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), relaxation training, benzodiazepine premedication, music distraction, hypnotherapy, acupuncture, nitrous oxide sedation, and the use of lavender oil scent. CBT delivered in a variety of formats, including one-session treatment, has the most evidence for its efficacy. Cognitive techniques, relaxation, and techniques to increase patients' sense of control over dental care are also efficacious but perform best when combined with repeated, graduated exposure. Other interventions require further study in randomized trials before conclusions about their efficacy are warranted. Limitations of the extant outcome research and implications for future treatment and research are discussed.
Topics: Acupuncture Therapy; Adult; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Dental Anxiety; Humans; Hypnosis; Relaxation Therapy
PubMed: 23746494
DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2013.04.002