A J van Wijk1, P C Makkes. 1. Department of Social Dentistry and Behavioural Sciences, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), Universiteit van Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit, Louwesweg 1, 1066 EA Amsterdam, The Netherlands. a.vwijk@acta.nl
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: In the present study, the relationship between anxiety and pain was investigated using a clinically relevant sample and stimulus. METHODS: A sample of highly anxious dental patients (n = 23) and a sample of 'normal' subjects (n = 57) were compared with respect to the duration and intensity of pain while receiving a dental anaesthetic injection. RESULTS: As expected, highly anxious dental patients indicate more pain, which is of longer duration, than normal patients. Most predictive for the amount of pain felt was the pain felt during a previous injection. CONCLUSION: Dentists should be aware that anxious dental patients with a negative experience regarding dental injections may feel elevated levels of pain which most likely leads to negative expectations for the future.
OBJECTIVES: In the present study, the relationship between anxiety and pain was investigated using a clinically relevant sample and stimulus. METHODS: A sample of highly anxious dentalpatients (n = 23) and a sample of 'normal' subjects (n = 57) were compared with respect to the duration and intensity of pain while receiving a dental anaesthetic injection. RESULTS: As expected, highly anxious dentalpatients indicate more pain, which is of longer duration, than normal patients. Most predictive for the amount of pain felt was the pain felt during a previous injection. CONCLUSION: Dentists should be aware that anxious dentalpatients with a negative experience regarding dental injections may feel elevated levels of pain which most likely leads to negative expectations for the future.
Authors: Balakrishnan Thayumanavan; C Krithika; Khadijah Mohideen; A V R Ranjalitha; C M Sacred Twinkle; C Pravda; Swetha Prabhu Journal: J Pharm Bioallied Sci Date: 2021-06-05