BACKGROUND: Self-reported dental fear measures seldom are used in clinical practice to assess patients' fears. This study examined how well dental fear measures predicted anxious behaviors displayed during dental treatment. METHODS: One hundred eight adult patients (54 percent female) in a periodontology clinic completed several paper-and-pencil demographic, dental fear and general anxiety measures before treatment. Dental practitioners, blinded to their patients' responses, rated their patients' anxiety during treatment on a series of 100-millimeter visual analog scales. RESULTS: Higher Dental Fear Survey scores, younger age, more invasive treatment type and previous avoidance of dental care because of a bad experience all were predictive of greater observed anxiety. Neither self-reported nor observed anxiety was affected by previous experience with a particular practitioner or treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Dentists may assess patients' anxiety quickly and accurately with the Dental Fear Survey or a similar measure, as well as by asking patients about their current dental attendance and previous dental experiences.
BACKGROUND: Self-reported dental fear measures seldom are used in clinical practice to assess patients' fears. This study examined how well dental fear measures predicted anxious behaviors displayed during dental treatment. METHODS: One hundred eight adult patients (54 percent female) in a periodontology clinic completed several paper-and-pencil demographic, dental fear and general anxiety measures before treatment. Dental practitioners, blinded to their patients' responses, rated their patients' anxiety during treatment on a series of 100-millimeter visual analog scales. RESULTS: Higher Dental Fear Survey scores, younger age, more invasive treatment type and previous avoidance of dental care because of a bad experience all were predictive of greater observed anxiety. Neither self-reported nor observed anxiety was affected by previous experience with a particular practitioner or treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Dentists may assess patients' anxiety quickly and accurately with the Dental Fear Survey or a similar measure, as well as by asking patients about their current dental attendance and previous dental experiences.
Authors: Daniel W McNeil; Cameron L Randall; Lindsey L Cohen; Richard J Crout; Robert J Weyant; Katherine Neiswanger; Mary L Marazita Journal: Int J Paediatr Dent Date: 2019-09-12 Impact factor: 3.455
Authors: Richard Singer; Gabriel Cardenas; Jessica Xavier; Yves Jeanty; Margaret Pereyra; Allan Rodriguez; Lisa R Metsch Journal: Public Health Rep Date: 2012-05 Impact factor: 2.792
Authors: Catherine J Binkley; Abbie Beacham; William Neace; Ronald G Gregg; Edwin B Liem; Daniel I Sessler Journal: J Am Dent Assoc Date: 2009-07 Impact factor: 3.634