Assessment of the impact of stress and anxiety on pain perception in patients undergoing surgery for placement of their first dental implant.

AIM: This study aimed to record, both subjectively and objectively the anxiety of patients awaiting placement of their first dental implant and their long term stress levels; and evaluate their relation to the perception of pain by the patient during and after the procedure.
METHODOLOGY: Early morning salivary cortisol samples were collected from 47 patients awaiting the placement of their first dental implant to evaluate long term stress. The patients filled out a dental anxiety stress questionnaire before the procedure. Heart rate and oxygen saturation were recorded at four key intervals; in the waiting room, while seated in the dental chair, during the placement of the implant and five minutes post operatively. The patients were asked to describe their post-operative sensation of pain on a Wong-Baker facial pain scale. The readings were then compared using regression models to assess the best predictor of pain immediately after the operation RESULTS AND
CONCLUSION: The regression models showed that while heart rate in the waiting area was a significant predictor of the reported pain of the patient, long term stress and reported anxiety were not.