Determinants Associated with Creating Fearful Dental Patients

Weiner, Arthur A.

doi:10.1002/9781118788929.ch2

“…Traditional views hold that one’s prior experience of dental treatment plays a key role in shaping dental fear/anxiety [ 1 – 3 ]. Clinical evidence supports the notion that fear of dental treatment is closely associated with previous negative treatment experience [ 4 – 7 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Magnification of fear and intention of avoidance in non-experienced versus experienced dental treatment in adults

Lin

¹

,

Lee

²

,

Chen

³

et al. 2021

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Background Dental fear is associated with the experience of prior dental treatment and avoidance of dental visits. It remains unclear if individuals show an intention of avoidance (IA) towards treatments that they have not received (i.e., non-experienced dental treatment). The study aims to investigated (a) if individuals showed an increased fear and IA to non-experienced, compared to experienced dental treatment, and (b) if fear and IA to non-experienced treatment is associated with dental anxiety. Methods Fear/IA of 12 common conditions of dental treatment of 402 adults were investigated. If subjects have experienced the condition, fear and IA were assessed based on subjects’ prior experience (i.e., ExpFear/ExpIA). If they have not experienced the condition, fear and IA were assessed based on their anticipation (i.e., NExpFear/NExpIA). Trait dental anxiety was assessed using the Index of Dental Anxiety and Fear (IDAF-4C+). Results (A) NExpFear and NExpIA were significantly higher than ExpFear and ExpIA, respectively. (B) The IDAF-4C+ scores are positively correlated with NExpFear/NExpIA and negatively correlated with the magnification of fear (i.e., the discrepancy in the fear/IA of non-experienced vs. experienced conditions). (C) The condition ‘extraction of a wisdom tooth’ and ‘root canal treatment’ showed the highest ratings on NExpFear. Conclusions Individuals may develop a high degree of fear and IA of the treatment they have not received. Trait dental anxiety plays a key role in the fear of non-experienced treatment.

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“…While different approaches have been proposed for managing patients with high dental anxiety [ 10 , 11 ], the fundamental issue of managing dental anxiety is to assess individual dental anxiety with a valid and reliable tool. Assessment of dental anxiety has been recommended for all dental patients to screen for patients with high dental anxiety, so that their experience of treatment, can be improved [ 12 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Translation and validation of modified dental anxiety scale based on adult Taiwan population

Lin

¹

,

Lee

²

,

Wu

³

et al. 2021

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Background Dental anxiety is associated with negative experiences of dental treatment and dental-visiting behavior. The Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) is widely used for assessing dental anxiety. The study aims to establish the psychometric properties of a Chinese version of the MDAS based on the Taiwan sample (i.e., T-MDAS). Methods The T-MDAS and dental-visiting behavior and experience were assessed for 402 adult subjects recruited from community and clinical sites. The following psychometric properties were assessed: (a) internal consistency, (b) temporal stability, (c) criterion-related validity (i.e., the association with the score of Index of Dental Anxiety and Fear, IDAF-4C), (d) discrimination validity (i.e., the difference in scores between the subjects with and without a habit of a regular dental visit, and (e) the construct validity from a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Results. The T-MDAS showed good internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.88) and temporal stability (ρ = 0.69, p < 0.001). The score was significantly correlated with the score of the IDAF-4C (ρ = 0.76, p < 0.001) and differed between subjects who regularly visited a dentist or not, supporting good criterion-related validity and discrimination validity. Results from CFA supports good construct validity. Furthermore, higher dental anxiety was related to the lack of a regular dental visit, feeling pain during treatment, and feeling insufficient skills and empathy of dentists. A higher proportion of high-dental anxiety subjects in female subjects (8.5%), compared to male subjects (5.0%), was noted. Conclusions The T-MDAS is a valid tool for assessing adult dental anxiety. The score is highly associated with dental-visiting behavior and experience of dental patients.

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“…Patients suffering from dental anxiety often report experiences with ineffective local anaesthesia, oral pain, loss of control, and loss of confidence (Hakeberg et al 1992b;Weiner & Weinstein 1995). The consequences of dental anxiety such as missed appointments or late cancellations have been discussed as factors affecting stress for the dental practitioner (Hakeberg et al 1992b;Hill et al 2008;Moore & Brodsgaard 2001;O'Shea et al 1984;Weiner & Weinstein 1995).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Patients suffering from dental anxiety often report experiences with ineffective local anaesthesia, oral pain, loss of control, and loss of confidence (Hakeberg et al 1992b;Weiner & Weinstein 1995). The consequences of dental anxiety such as missed appointments or late cancellations have been discussed as factors affecting stress for the dental practitioner (Hakeberg et al 1992b;Hill et al 2008;Moore & Brodsgaard 2001;O'Shea et al 1984;Weiner & Weinstein 1995). Consequently, Hakeberg and colleagues have demonstrated that severe dental anxiety was associated with poor oral health (Agdal et al 2008;Armfield et al 2009;Boman et al 2010;Hakeberg et al 1993;Hallstrom & Halling 1984;Milgrom et al 1996;Ng & Leung 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Management of dental anxiety – a cross-sectional survey in private dental practices in the Swiss Romandy

Jevean,

Ramseier

2020

Swiss Dent. J. SSO

1

0

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The main aim of the present study was to gain a better understanding of the management of dental anxiety reported by dental practitioners in western Switzerland. In 2013, an 18-item electronic questionnaire was sent to dental practitioners in the Swiss Romandy. A total of 140 (18.6%) questionnaires were included in the analysis. About four out of five practitioners (79.4%) involved with dental emergency service had at least one occurrence with dental phobic patients. The majority of the respondents stated that both dental anxiety and dental phobia increases stress in the dental practice with frequencies of 90.0% and 88.5%, respectively. Among the 119 respondents using anxiety reduction methods (85.0%), an overall of 51 (42.9%) reported using pharmacological methods while 89.9% (n = 107) used psychological methods. Female dentists were using psychological anxiety reduction methods three times more frequently than male dentists reaching borderline statistical significance (OR = 3.0, p = 0.0591). Out of 140 respondents, only 28 (20.1%) received education and training in dental anxiety reduction methods. The majority of these (66.4%; n = 83) stated that their education was inadequate and 55.8% (n = 77) requested further education and training. It can be concluded that more education and training of dental anxiety reduction methods are needed.

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Determinants Associated with Creating Fearful Dental Patients

Cited by 3 publications

References 78 publications

Magnification of fear and intention of avoidance in non-experienced versus experienced dental treatment in adults

Magnification of fear and intention of avoidance in non-experienced versus experienced dental treatment in adults

Translation and validation of modified dental anxiety scale based on adult Taiwan population

Management of dental anxiety – a cross-sectional survey in private dental practices in the Swiss Romandy

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