Does dental anxiety influence oral health-related quality of life? Observations from a cross-sectional study among adults in Udaipur district, India. (65/130)

We investigated the effect of dental anxiety and dental visiting habits, as well as various socio-demographic variables, on oral health-related quality of life (OHQoL) among subjects aged 15-54 years living in Udaipur district, India. The total sample size was 1235 individuals and a stratified cluster sampling procedure was employed to collect the representative sample. Dental anxiety and oral health-related quality of life were assessed using the Corah Dental anxiety scale and the OHQoL-UK(W) questionnaire, respectively. The majority of the female and older individuals showed higher dental anxiety than their male and younger counterparts. Stepwise linear regression analysis revealed that the best predictors of dental anxiety were, in descending order, occupation, gender and education, which provided a variance of 10.3%. Females were more likely to have poor OHQoL than males. Dental anxiety had a significant influence on OHQoL, people with high dental anxiety being 2.34 times more likely to present poor OHQoL than those having low anxiety. Furthermore, it was found that those who never visited a dentist had an odds ratio of 1.62 for poor OHQoL relative to those who had visited a dentist within the last 12 months. Dental anxiety differed significantly with age and dental visiting practices, and had a significant impact on oral health-related quality of life after controlling for other variables.  (+info)

Genetic variations associated with red hair color and fear of dental pain, anxiety regarding dental care and avoidance of dental care. (66/130)

BACKGROUND: Red hair color is caused by variants of the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) gene. People with naturally red hair are resistant to subcutaneous local anesthetics and, therefore, may experience increased anxiety regarding dental care. The authors tested the hypothesis that having natural red hair color, a MC1R gene variant or both could predict a patient's experiencing dental care-related anxiety and dental care avoidance. METHODS: The authors enrolled 144 participants (67 natural red-haired and 77 dark-haired) aged 18 to 41 years in a cross-sectional observational study. Participants completed validated survey instruments designed to measure general and dental care-specific anxiety, fear of dental pain and previous dental care avoidance. The authors genotyped participants' blood samples to detect variants associated with natural red hair color. RESULTS: Eighty-five participants had MC1R gene variants (65 of the 67 red-haired participants and 20 of the 77 dark-haired participants) (P < .001). Participants with MC1R gene variants reported significantly more dental care-related anxiety and fear of dental pain than did participants with no MC1R gene variants. They were more than twice as likely to avoid dental care as were the participants with no MC1R gene variants, even after the authors controlled for general trait anxiety and sex. CONCLUSION: Dental care-related anxiety, fear of dental pain and avoidance of dental care may be influenced by genetic variations. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Dentists should evaluate all patients, but especially those with naturally red hair, for dental care-related anxiety and use appropriate modalities to manage the patients' anxiety.  (+info)

The atraumatic restorative treatment approach: an "atraumatic" alternative. (67/130)

INTRODUCTION: Fear and anxiety are part of all human experiences and they may contribute directly to a patient's behavior. The Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) is a technique that may be an alternative approach in treating special care patients or those who suffer fear or anxiety. OBJECTIVE: the aim of this paper is to review the ART technique as an alternative to reduce pain and fear during dental treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A search for the term "atraumatic restorative treatment" was carried out in the MEDLINE search engine. References, from the last 10 years, containing at least one of the terms: "psychological aspects", "discomfort", "fear", "anxiety" or "pain", were selected. RESULTS: A total of 120 references were found, from which only 17 fit the criteria. DISCUSSION: All authors agreed that the ART promotes less discomfort for patients, contributing to a reduction of anxiety and fear during the dental treatment. Results also indicated that ART minimizes pain reported by patients. CONCLUSIONS: The ART approach can be considered as having favorable characteristics for the patient, promoting an "atraumatic" treatment. This technique may be indicated for patients who suffer from fear or anxiety towards dental treatments and whose behavior may cause the treatment to become unfeasible or even impossible altogether.  (+info)

Evidence-based patient education: knowledge transfer to endodontic patients. (68/130)

Evidence-based treatment is emphasized in oral health care, but there has been less focus on empirically demonstrating the effects of patient education. Attempts to educate patients must be empirically demonstrated in order to provide evidence-based guidance to practitioners and educators. We conducted two studies that assessed information acquisition during five-minute audiovisual films on oral hygiene procedures, endodontic procedures, and fear about pain during root canal therapy. A fifteen-item Dental Knowledge Questionnaire (DKQ), with three subscales each focusing on the content of one of the films, was developed and psychometrically evaluated. Study 1 included 268 undergraduates; study 2 involved 104 endodontic patients. Participants completed the DKQ, viewed one of the three films, and repeated the questionnaire. The effects of information on knowledge were assessed using 3 (film group) X 3 (subscale of the DKQ) X 2 (time) repeated measures ANOVAs. Scores improved in a content-specific fashion relevant to the film viewed among undergraduates, F(4, 263)=211.33, p<.001, partial eta(2)=.62 and endodontic patients, F(4, 99)=87.22, p<.001, partial eta(2)=.63. The results provide evidence for using brief informational film as an efficacious method to increase patient knowledge, at least in the short term. The DKQ is proposed as a tool to assess patient knowledge in the arenas of oral hygiene and endodontics.  (+info)

Dental anxiety and salivary cortisol levels before urgent dental care. (69/130)

Dental anxiety is still prevalent, despite advances in treatment, and affects the utilization of health care services. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to determine if patients with different degrees of dental anxiety and pain undergoing emergency dental care have different stress reactions as measured by salivary cortisol. Seventy three patients completed the modified dental anxiety scale (MDAS), and described any previous dental traumatic experience. Their socio-demographic characteristics were also recorded. They also rated pain intensity on a 100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS). A saliva sample was collected before the procedure, and analyzed by enzyme immunoassay. Thirty patients were dentally anxious and forty one complained of pain. In this sample, dental anxiety was not related to gender, age, educational level and family income; however, a previous traumatic event was related to dental anxiety. There was no association between salivary cortisol concentrations and gender or dental anxiety. Patients with pain showed higher cortisol levels. When gathering patient information, the dentist should note patients' negative dental experiences in order to provide more effective, less traumatic treatment.  (+info)

Propranolol and D-cycloserine as adjunctive medications in reducing dental fear in sedation practice. (70/130)

Extensive research and clinical experience have demonstrated the usefulness of sedation in helping fearful patients receive dental treatment, particularly when they have urgent treatment needs. In addition, the efficacy of behavioural programmes for managing dental fears is well established. While often these two approaches are seen as oppositional, our work in Seattle, Morgantown and at King's College London Dental Institute demonstrates the complementarity of the two approaches. Using the example of two compounds, one very familiar, propranolol, and one that has recently become of interest, D-cycloserine, we wish to illustrate the manner in which these medications can be used to enhance behavioural approaches to managing dental anxiety.  (+info)

Involvement of psychosocial factors in the association of obesity with periodontitis. (71/130)

The present case-control study of 79 subjects (19-69 yr) was designed to assess the relationship of several psychological determinants to periodontal disease and obesity. Periodontal clinical examinations were performed, and the subjects were asked to complete a set of questionnaires measuring Type A personality, anxiety, depression, dental anxiety, hopelessness, emotional intelligence, stress, self-esteem, optimism and satisfaction with life. In a bivariate analysis, overweight individuals presented higher levels of smoking exposure, anxiety and depression and lower levels of optimism and satisfaction with life. They were mainly females, with a higher number of sites and teeth with probing depth (PD) >6 mm and clinical attachment level (CAL) >5 mm. Patients with a mean PD exceeding 3 mm and a bleeding on probing index of >25% presented higher values of dental anxiety and lower levels of self-esteem. Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that dental anxiety was positively associated with the number of teeth with a PD of >6 mm and with reasons for visiting a dentist, while satisfaction with life was associated with flossing frequency. We conclude that there is an association between several psychological determinants, periodontitis, and body mass index.  (+info)

Self-reported halitosis and emotional state: impact on oral conditions and treatments. (72/130)

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