Psychosocial effects associated with dental fear in adult dental patients with avoidance behaviours

Abstract

Abstract The most obvious consequence of a genuine dental phobic reaction is the avoidance of necessary dental care. Previous research has indicated that such avoidance has adverse effects on an individual's oral health status, and also reduces the quality of life. However, systematic investigations in this area of dentistry are few and clinical observations and interviews may often fail to elicit information regarding the impairment created outside the dental situation. The present investigation assessed the presence and levels of emotional and social life effects among dental phobic patients with regard to the prevalence of dental and general fears and the length of time for which dentistry had been avoided. It was shown that a majority of the patients felt that they had to curtail their social relations, and many, especially long-term avoiders, reported wide-spread negative social life effects. Often this had extended into feelings of loneliness or to overt social isolation. It remains to be seen wheth...