The Relationship between Dental Fear and Anxiety, General Anxiety/Fear, Sensory Over-Responsivity, and Oral Health Behaviors and Outcomes: A Conceptual Model

Abstract

Dental fear and anxiety (DFA) is common across the lifespan and represents a barrier to proper oral health behaviors and outcomes. The aim of this study is to present a conceptual model of the relationships between DFA, general anxiety/fear, sensory over-responsivity (SOR), and/or oral health behaviors and outcomes. Two rounds of literature searches were performed using the PubMed database. Included articles examined DFA, general anxiety/fear, SOR, catastrophizing, and/or oral health behaviors and outcomes in typically developing populations across the lifespan. The relationships between the constructs were recorded and organized into a conceptual model. A total of 188 articles were included. The results provided supporting evidence for relationships between DFA and all other constructs included in the model (general anxiety/fear, SOR, poor oral health, irregular dental attendance, dental behavior management problems [DBMP], and need for treatment with pharmacological methods). Additionally, SOR was associated with general anxiety/fear and DBMP; general anxiety/fear was linked to poor oral health, irregular attendance, and DBMP. This model provides a comprehensive view of the relationships between person factors (e.g., general anxiety/fear, SOR, and DFA) and oral health behaviors and outcomes. This is valuable in order to highlight connections between constructs that may be targeted in the development of new interventions to improve oral health behaviors and outcomes as well as the experience of DFA.

Children's electronic screen time exposure and its relationship to dental anxiety and behavior

“…Nevertheless, studies have shown that children with general anxiety and psychological disturbance tend to exhibit uncooperative dental behavior and anxiety problems. 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 Therefore, evidence of the effect of children's ST exposure on dental anxiety and behavior problems in dental clinics is needed. To our knowledge, only one article has discussed the relation between screen exposure and children's dental anxiety and behaviour.…”

Does the Pediatric Dentistry Know About Sensory Processing Disorder? An Integrative Review

“…The present IR clearly shows that to date, only five articles directly link PSD and clinical practices to pediatric dentistry [1,[7][8][9][10]. Nevertheless, all articles specifically discuss autism spectrum disorder (ASD), although some studies associate SPD with other diagnoses, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Down syndrome and anxiety [11][12][13][14][15].…”

Associations of sensory sensitivity, pain catastrophizing, and alexithymia with dental anxiety

“…Sensory processing patterns and alexithymia are also associated with pain catastrophizing [14,[19][20][21][22], which in turn is associated with dental anxiety [23,24]. Catastrophic thinking is known to contribute to the experience of pain by negative ruminating, and by magnifying and capturing the experience of pain [23].…”